Key facts
- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appointed commanders Andrii Biletskyi and Denys Prokopenko to lead new defence groupings in eastern Ukraine.
- The appointments aim to bolster the defence of industrial cities in the Donetsk region, which Russia demands Ukraine cede.
- Biletskyi leads the Third Army Corps, and Prokopenko commands the First Corps Azov.
- Both commanders and their units are noted for their combat efficiency and adoption of NATO-style doctrine.
- Russian forces are actively advancing on key cities like Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk, increasing attacks to prepare for offensives.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appointed two prominent Ukrainian commanders, Andrii Biletskyi and Denys Prokopenko, to lead new groupings focused on strengthening the defence of the eastern Donetsk region. This strategic move comes as Ukrainian forces face mounting pressure from Russian troops advancing on key industrial cities like Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk. Moscow has demanded Ukraine cede this region as a condition for ending the ongoing war.
Biletskyi, founder of Ukraine's Azov Battalion and leader of the Third Army Corps, and Prokopenko, commander of the First Corps Azov who led forces during the Mariupol siege, are recognized for their combat experience and the capabilities of their units. Both corps are already engaged in defending the eastern front and are noted for adopting NATO-style military doctrine and technology. Military analyst Mykola Bielieskov suggested these appointments would grant greater strategic planning scope to the new top commander, Mykhailo Drapatyi, moving away from the micromanagement style of his predecessor, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Despite Ukraine's successes in liberating several dozen settlements and reclaiming territory earlier in the year, Russian forces are intensifying their efforts. They are reportedly infiltrating Kostiantynivka and increasing air and artillery attacks on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, located just 13 km from the front lines, to prepare for further offensives. Drone forces commander Robert Brovdi lauded the appointments as a significant step towards "network-centric warfare" or "Smart War."