“The poor performance of the Russian armed forces during its invasion of Ukraine has been ‘costly’ for Russia’s military leadership, most likely resulting in the removal of at least six Russian commanders since the start of hostilities in February 2022,” it says in British Ministry of Defense daily note, based on the data collected by its intelligence services.
According to the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the commanders of Russia’s eastern and western military regions are very likely to have lost their administrative duties.
General Aleksandr Chayko was dismissed as Commander of the Eastern Military District in May 2022.
General Aleksandr Zhuravlev, who commanded the Western Military District since 2018, was absent from Russia’s Navy Day celebration in St. Petersburg on July 31, 2022, and was likely replaced by General Vladimir Kochetkov.
General Aleksandr Vladimirovich Dvornikov was subsequently removed after being given overall command of the operation in Ukraine.
General Sergei Surovikin took over command of the Southern Group of Forces from General Gennady Valeryevich Zhidko.
“These ‘removals’ are compounded by the fact that at least 10 Russian Generals have been killed on the battlefield in Ukraine. The cumulative effect on command consistency is likely to contribute to Russian tactical and operational difficulties,” the British MoD intelligence agency concluded.
