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Update from Ukraine | Wagner moves out | The military map Update
Youtube.com ^ | 5-28-2023 | Denys Davydov

Posted on 05/28/2023 8:26:54 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com

Update from Ukraine | Wagner moves out | The military map Update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9M11UkkJZI

****NEW SUMMARY Military MAPS & COMMENTS here: Invasion Day 458 – Summary Jerome – May 27, 2023. https://militaryland.net/news/invasion-day-458-summary/

5-28-2023- Ukraine is forming a new mechanized brigade of the Ground Forces. https://militaryland.net/news/new-mechanized-brigade-is-being-formed/

Ukrainian Army is being expanded by a new brigade, 44th Mechanized Brigade. The unit is currently at the stage of formation. As photos on social media suggest, it’s one of the Polish-trained Ukrainian brigades.The brigade received military number A4723 and at least one battalion is equipped with Polish-donated BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles.

The unit has been added to our database – 44th Mechanized Brigade, where you can also find more photos.

*** Greatly appreciate the viewer controlled Map magnification tool to use on each Front map!

[NOTE: “pleased to introduce you new maps. They are, just like the previous ones, handcrafted from OSM data to best suit our needs”]


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: bakhmut; bidenlovers; bidenswar; chechnya; dienazidie; fakenews; liarslying; moreeurowankercrap; neocons4war; neoconsforbiden; odessanext; paidpost; pedophiles; polandsuxtoo; qtardsforukraie; ramzankadyrov; reportfordutydenys; russiaiswinning; tothelastukrainian; tuneintomorrow; ukenazisgoingdown; ukepropoganda; wagnergroup; yevgenyprigozhin
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1 posted on 05/28/2023 8:26:54 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Update from Ukraine | Wagner moves out | The military map Update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9M11UkkJZI

****NEW SUMMARY Military MAPS & COMMENTS here: Invasion Day 458 – Summary Jerome – May 27, 2023. https://militaryland.net/news/invasion-day-458-summary/

5-28-2023- Ukraine is forming a new mechanized brigade of the Ground Forces. https://militaryland.net/news/new-mechanized-brigade-is-being-formed/

Ukrainian Army is being expanded by a new brigade, 44th Mechanized Brigade. The unit is currently at the stage of formation. As photos on social media suggest, it’s one of the Polish-trained Ukrainian brigades.The brigade received military number A4723 and at least one battalion is equipped with Polish-donated BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles.

The unit has been added to our database – 44th Mechanized Brigade, where you can also find more photos.

*** Greatly appreciate the viewer controlled Map magnification tool to use on each Front map!

[NOTE: “pleased to introduce you new maps. They are, just like the previous ones, handcrafted from OSM data to best suit our needs”]


2 posted on 05/28/2023 8:27:02 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: AdmSmith; AmericanInTokyo; amnestynone; Apparatchik; AZJeep; babble-on; BeauBo; bert; ...

VIDEOS

1. 28 May: A Group of Russians on Fatal QUARANTINE! Defense Line is EMPTY!! | Ukraine Updates Explained
Divine Justice
140K subscribers
46K views 12: 05 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RajGt58nXW0

2. Kremlin is in Shock: Russian Base in Crimea was blown up by British Missiles!
Elite Journalist
252K subscribers
5- 28-2023 8:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsF4kUg6Sho


3 posted on 05/28/2023 8:27:58 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: All

ARTICLE

1. Air alert was announced in Kyiv and a number of regions on night of May 29. Air defense is operating in Kyiv region
Censor.NET
29.05.23 00:51
https://censor.net/en/news/3421293/air_alert_was_announced_in_kyiv_and_a_number_of_regions_on_night_of_may_29_air_defense_is_operating

On night of May 29, at 0:40 a.m., an air alert was declared in Kyiv and a number of regions.
It is informed by Censor.NЕТ.

As emphasizes Monitor Telegram channel “X-101/555 missiles were launched by Tu-95MS aircraft from the first group. If not an imitation, we expect it in an hour”.

Later, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported: “Air defense is operating in the region, on the outskirts of Kyiv. Stay in shelters until the air raid is over!”
Source: https://censor.net/en/n3421293


4 posted on 05/28/2023 8:31:22 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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VIDEOS

1. Major Breakthrough: Ukrainian Azov fighters made history against Russian army! Last 2 km to Bakhmut!
Oracle Eyes
444K subscribers
5- 28-2023 6:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flHtTq4Eosc

2. Wagner Actually Bails on Bakhmut! 28 May Ukraine Daily Update!
Combat Veteran Reacts
266K subscribers
5-28-2023 3:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmdOAT9VpSU


5 posted on 05/28/2023 8:33:12 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

6 posted on 05/28/2023 8:35:21 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: dennisw; DoughtyOne; DUMBGRUNT; Eagles6; edweena; ETCM; familyop; gleeaikin; ...

ARTICLE

Belarus Prez Lukashenko rushed to hospital after closed-door meeting with Putin, remains ‘critical’
India Today
UPDATED: May 29, 2023 08:16 IST
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/belarus-president-alexander-lukashenko-hospital-critical-condition-meeting-putin-poisoning-reports-2385714-2023-05-29

Lukashenko’s rival Valery Tsepkalo said the Belarusian President was “urgently transported to Moscow’s Central Clinical Hospital after his closed-door meeting with Putin”. He is in critical condition and his health is being monitored by top specialists.

Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko has been taken to hospital in Moscow and is in critical condition after meeting Russian premier Vladimir Putin, reported the Daily Express.

Citing unconfirmed reports, Lukashenko’s opponent Valery Tsepkalo said the 68-year-old Belarusian President was “urgently transported to Moscow’s Central Clinical Hospital after his closed-door meeting with Putin.”

Tsepkalo is a former candidate for the presidency of Belarus and former ambassador to the United States. In a tweet, Tsepkalo said Lukashenko “remains under medical care” and “leading specialists have been mobilized” to access his condition, which is believed to be critical.

The Belarusian government has remained tight-lipped amid speculation about the president’s health and has yet to release a statement on the nature of his illness. This has further stoked conspiracy theories that Lukashenko could have been poisoned by Russian secret services.

This comes as Lukashenko confirmed last week that Russia had begun moving tactical nuclear warheads for storage to Belarus. This marked the first deployment of such weapons outside its borders since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of shorter-range weapons in Belarus earlier this year, in a move widely seen as a warning to the West as it stepped up military support for Ukraine.


7 posted on 05/28/2023 8:41:25 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: All; Petrosius; popdonnelly; PIF; rbmillerjr; ScottinVA; SoCal Pubbie; SpeedyInTexas; stormer; ...

VIDEOS

1. “We Shot Our Own in the Back” – POW confession
UATV English
389K subscribers
5- 28-2023 8:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HDXpwhQTe0

💥 DISCLAIMER: the POW gave his clear consent for filming and publishing this footage. POWs are protected by the Geneva Convention and treated accordingly in Ukraine. Hryhoriev was born in Ukraine, in the Donetsk region. But when the Russian occupation came, he got mobilized to the war against Ukraine. According to his words, he escaped the front line three times but was then brought back. This time he has escaped the Russian army for sure: he surrendered to the Ukrainian defenders. In the video, Hryhoriev tells about horrible methods used in the occupation army, including death squads that stay behind the lines and kill any deserters. Lack of supplies and inhumane attitude almost made the man break mentally, and he surrendered to the Ukrainian army when possible. Hear what he intended to say in our video.

2. An old Russian soldier crawled and surrendered to Ukrainian fighters-”Raise your hands, stand up”
Kanal13
1.57M subscribers
5- 28-2023 1:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHkqaXpS8U


8 posted on 05/28/2023 8:45:34 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: All

ARTICLE

About 110 soldiers deserted from Russian army units overnight - General Staff
Censor.NET
28.05.23 21:37
https://censor.net/en/news/3421279/about_110_soldiers_deserted_from_russian_army_units_overnight_general_staff

Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff releases updated information on mass desertions in Russian army.
As informs Censor.NЕТ, it was reported at Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff official Facebook page.

The statement reads: “In Lysychansk, Luhansk region, about 80 people from the Storm-Z unit of the Russian occupation forces deserted. They left their combat positions without permission. Also, in the area of Bakhmut, about 30 people from the Wagner PMC deserted, who also arbitrarily left their combat positions, stealing military equipment.” Source: https://censor.net/en/n3421279


9 posted on 05/28/2023 8:50:12 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: AdmSmith; AmericanInTokyo; amnestynone; Apparatchik; AZJeep; babble-on; BeauBo; bert; ...

VIDEOS

1. BIGGEST AIRSTRIKE RUSSIAN’S HAVE SEEN | Russian air bases is on fire | Ukraine Updates Explained
Divine Justice
140K subscribers
5- 28-2023 9:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1qARtPzelM

2. 8. Ukraine Assault Forces Eliminate Russian Troops Trench Line & T-72 Tank With Drone & Artillery Shots
TEW22
124K subscribers
5- 28-2023 10:00 p.m. EDT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e457JiElqR8

The anticipated assault, which will come after months of deadlock, is probably going to be an extremely important test for Ukraine as it looks to demonstrate that it can make important battlefield advances using the weapon systems it has received from the West. The stretched-thin Russian army has been constructing solid defensive positions along the front line to fend off a strike or series of attacks while also trying to organise their own sabotage operations. But in addition to the forces at play, morale is a key factor in determining whether Ukraine succeeds or fails. According to one of the country’s top security officials, Ukraine is prepared to begin its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russian forces.

The assault to retake land from President Putin’s invading forces could start tomorrow, the day following tomorrow, or in a week, according to Danilov, who would not give a specific date. He cautioned that because this was a landmark opportunity that we could not miss, the Ukrainian government would have no right to make a poor choice. For months, Ukraine has been preparing a counterattack. However, it has sought as much time as possible to prepare its troops and receive military supplies from allies in the West. The biggest wave of exploding drone attacks since the start of the full-scale invasion was launched by Russia on Saturday night. 52 of the 54 Shahed drones that came from Iran were destroyed in midair.

The Russian army has committed horrific crimes against local civilians in areas it has occupied, and thousands of children have been abducted on a massive scale, as Ukrainian soldiers serving at the front know all too well. These soldiers put forth more effort because they are adamant about driving the Russians back inside their own borders and away from their doors.

Putin is aware of how fragile it is among his own soldiers, many of whom don’t understand why they are expected to take part in a conflict they haven’t even begun to comprehend. He is aware that he needs to lower the motivation levels of Ukrainian combatants and civilians at home. He has recently increased air attacks on cities and towns because of this.

Since Russia began its massive invasion of Ukraine a year ago, every Ukrainian’s life has been altered in a variety of significant and minor ways. In bomb shelters, demolished housing developments, hospitals, and decrepit marketplaces, they have mastered the art of surviving and providing for one another.


10 posted on 05/28/2023 8:55:14 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

ARTICLE

Kyiv’s resilience demonstrates the strength of its people – UK Foreign Minister
Sunday, 28 May 2023, 20:34
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/05/28/7404256/

UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly has responded to Russia’s large-scale air attack on Kyiv on the night before the Ukrainian capital’s City Day.

SOURCE: European Pravda; Cleverly on Twitter

LINK: https://twitter.com/JamesCleverly/status/1662850899226820608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1662850899226820608%7Ctwgr%5E9722a5dfe750b0fb664ce1e6de501be431366738%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pravda.com.ua%2Feng%2Fnews%2F2023%2F05%2F28%2F7404256%2F

DETAILS: As Ukraine’s capital celebrates Kyiv Day, Russia continues to send deadly drone strikes on the city,

Cleverly said.
“But Kyiv’s endurance since it was founded 1541 years ago today shows the strength of its people. We stand with Kyiv. We stand with all of Ukraine,” he tweeted.


11 posted on 05/28/2023 9:00:10 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: AdmSmith; AmericanInTokyo; amnestynone; Apparatchik; AZJeep; babble-on; BeauBo; bert; ...

VIDEO WITH SUMMATION COMMENTARY

28 May: UNEXPECTED MOVE. Ukrainians GET AROUND RUSSIAN DEFENSES | War in Ukraine Explained
Reporting from Ukraine
268K subscribers
May 28, 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW5XqnZcrD8

⚠️ Watch RFU in 18+ languages: https://www.youtube.com/@RFU/channels

I am Ukrainian. My country has been invaded by Russia. In this video I will tell you what happened on the four hundred and fifty ninth day of the war.

Day 459: May 28

Today there are a lot of updateS from the Bakhmut direction.

Ukrainian 3rd and 5th Assault Brigades continued attacking Klishchiivka simultaneously from two sides. Tank operators from the 3rd Assault Brigade recently released a video showing how they made an attack on Russian fortified positions in the tree lines north of the settlement. The attack was conducted by at least two tanks that unleashed their high-explosive shells in order to undermine Russian defense.

Such tank raids are usually immediately followed by a ground assault. Under cover of tank fire, Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicles drive to the target and deploy their infantry that engages in close combat fighting. Once the enemy fire is suppressed, the remaining troops hide inside the shelters. If the shelter is not equipped with all-round firing points, then their best hope is that the Russians in the neighboring position manage to overwhelm Ukrainians with fire. Otherwise, the strong point is cleared with several grenades.

In the aftermath of continuous storming operation north of Klishchiivka, Ukrainians managed to clear several more tree lines on their way to the settlement. According to the latest updates, Russians are controlling the main trench network on a hill and two dense tree areas around it.

A prominent Russian military analyst stated that Russian forces lack the organization, fire support, coordination, and training necessary to defend the Bakhmut’s flanks. The analyst also complained that Russian forces allowed Ukrainian forces to drive an infantry fighting vehicle for 15 minutes into the Russian rear without destroying it, with the Ukrainian assault lasting only 16 minutes in total.

However, this is only half of the bad news for Russians. Several days ago, a Wagner-affiliated source reported that Ukrainians had crossed the canal and were developing their second line of attack. Recently published geolocated footage confirms these claims, as one video shows how Ukrainian fighters from the 80th Assault Brigade are destroying enemy ammunition depots with drone strikes, another one shows how Ukrainian artillery or mortar crews are hitting Russian positions 500 meters south of the previous ones, and the latest video shows how Ukrainians crossed the canal, approached the enemy and successfully established control over the positions on the other side of the canal.

This is a very significant development because it means that Ukrainians proceed further with the plan of engulfing Klishchiivka from two sides, which is crucial for conduction a successful storming operation. As mentioned previously, there is an extensive trench network on a hill that is surrounded by two small forests, which together make an extremely powerful fortification. That is why undermining Russian defensive capabilities prior to the assault is extremely important.

And while Ukrainian infantry is generating tactical gains, Ukrainian artillery and drone crews are making Russian logistics a nightmare. Ukrainian 28th Mechanized Brigade published a video of how they hunted down Russian reinforcements near Andriivka. In the aftermath of one day of continuous monitoring of the road by drone operators and the help of the artillery crew, Ukrainians managed to destroy 10 Russian vehicles, including one tank. The vehicles were delivering ammunition and manpower.

In the meantime, Ukrainian drone operators from the 5th Assault Brigade have focused on the opposite side of this region, namely on the Russian positions in the forest. The footage shows how they destroyed an enemy mortar position and an ammunition depot.

It looks like Ukrainian fighters that are on the doorstep of the main Russian fortification are waiting until other units attack Klishchiivka from the north and south. This way, there is a high chance that Russians will just abandon their positions for fear of being taken into a pocket. Ukrainian military officials previously reported that Russian forces are transferring unspecified airborne and motorized rifle units from the Luhansk direction to the Bakhmut direction, and many of these soldiers were mobilized. The continuous development of tactics that exploit the low morale of the Russian soldiers helps Ukrainians to clear positions much faster and with very light damage.

*** Select the 3 horozontal dots to view a Complete Transcript [Below video/ top right corner]


12 posted on 05/28/2023 9:22:07 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com
ScamWow
image host
13 posted on 05/28/2023 9:48:27 PM PDT by CapandBall
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Funny to me how I never saw you give two shits about America’s borders, but you’ve been Hell bent on slaughtering the world over rotten stinking Ukraine’s.


14 posted on 05/28/2023 9:48:30 PM PDT by Dogbert41 (“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” -Matthew 5:9)
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To: Dogbert41
"Funny to me how I never saw..." Funny to me too you never saw. Need to pay attention before false accusations. 5/24/2023 UMCRevMom@aol.com to 13foxtrot UMCRevMom: "Yes, good point. BTW, Russia citizens are also part of the illegals crossing U.S. borders. Often, the trip is paid by Russian parents"
15 posted on 05/28/2023 10:37:56 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: CapandBall

You are the one who gleefully supports death by supporting the criminal invasion. Just what Moscow talking point do you disagree with? Apparently none of them,

I’ve traveled Ukraine widely including the Donbas. It is a wonderful country with beautiful people. Your hatred for freedom-loving people is typical of Marxist-Leninists.

The Ukrainians fight with bravery and develop intrepid tactics. Our military is learning much from them.


19 posted on 05/29/2023 12:05:46 AM PDT by Monterrosa-24 (To the barricades !!!)
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To: buwaya; Bruce Campbells Chin; canuck_conservative; Chainmail; Covenantor; Cronos; Monterrosa-24

ARTICLE

Ukraine’s ‘Iron General’ is facing off against his 4th Russian war commander. Here’s why the others lost their jobs.
Business Insider
Jake Epstein
May 28, 2023, 10:30 AM EDT
https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-iron-general-zaluzhnyi-has-faced-multiple-russian-war-commanders-2023-5

Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine can be measured in time, 15 months for a war it thought it could win in days; in casualties, hundreds of thousands since the war began; or in the invading army’s limited territorial gains as the bodies pile up.

It can also be measured in the number of times Russia has changed commanders as Moscow looks for someone who can win this fight. The Kremlin is on it’s fourth commander since the February 2022 invasion. Ukraine, on the other hand, has only had one: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Zaluzhnyi, also known as Ukraine’s “Iron General,” has led Kyiv’s military since July 2021, when he was appointed to the role by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zaluzhnyi made it his mission to further reform Ukraine’s armed forces to operate as Western militaries do, backing away from older Soviet-era practices.

Zaluzhnyi has studied closely his current opponent, Russian Gen. Valery Gerasimov, who was tapped to lead Moscow’s campaign in January after previously serving as the longtime chief of the general staff of the country’s armed forces.

“I learned from Gerasimov. I read everything he ever wrote,” Zaluzhnyi previously told Time Magazine in an interview last year. “He is the smartest of men, and my expectations of him were enormous.”

The Russian general, however, does not appear to be living up to those expectations. Gerasimov oversaw a relatively lackluster Russian winter offensive, during which his forces failed to seize a significant amount of territory and suffered tens of thousands of casualties in the process.

The two men are squaring off as Ukraine gears up for a highly anticipated counteroffensive aimed at liberating occupied areas in the country’s eastern and southern regions. Aside from trying to prevent Ukraine from conducting successful advances, Gerasimov will also attempt to do something that none of his predecessors have been able to do since the war started — keep his job for more than five months.

Here’s what happened to Russia’s previous three war commanders, according to a recent analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank that has closely tracked developments in Ukraine.

ALEXANDER DVORNIKOV

When Russia first launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late-February 2022, it relied on district commanders rather than overall commander of the war effort. What followed was several weeks of poorly coordinated operations, Russian missteps, and failures that ultimately led to Moscow’s forces withdrawing from the Kyiv region and repositioning themselves to focus on Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “reluctance to appoint an overall theater commander for his invasion of Ukraine has had cascading effects on the Russian military including fueling intense factionalization, disorganizing command structures, and feeding unattainable expectations,” ISW said.

In early April, after these initial failures in a war that Russia thought it could and was expected to win in days, Putin appointed Army Gen. Alexander Dvornikov to be Moscow’s first overall theater commander and reportedly instructed him to seize the Donbas region by the beginning of May and establish one uniform command for Moscow’s operations in Ukraine. Dvornikov also served as the southern military district commander.

GENNADY ZHIDKO

Dvornikov’s leadership ended after nearly two months following failures to secure either goal. He was replaced by Army Gen. Gennady Zhidko, who also served as the eastern military district commander.

“The dual roles given Zhidko and Dvornikov were likely a result of Putin’s continued reluctance to make any single general too prominent,” ISW said.

Just as Dvornikov’s appointment is a bit of a mystery, the reasons Putin appointed Zhidko are unclear, but it’s possible the relationship these men had with Gerasimov, who was still chief of the general staff at the time, played a role. Like Dvornikov, Zhidko was instructed to formalize command structures.

Zhidko’s tenure lasted through the summer, when Russia enjoyed some successful offensive operations in eastern Ukraine before they were derailed. Russian territorial gains were short-lived as Ukraine launched a lightning-fast counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region in September, which saw Kyiv’s forces liberate a chunk of occupied territory.

Ukrainian offensive operations were also carried out in the southern city of Kherson, which was later liberated to deprive Russia of an early war win.

Putin booted Zhidko from both of his roles in early October, ending a command that lasted a little over four months.

“The failure of two generals who were establishment MoD figures and Gerasimov affiliates likely solidified Putin’s decision to appoint a commander not affiliated with Gerasimov to the position of overall theater commander after the Kharkiv debacle,” ISW wrote.

SERGEY SUROVIKIN

In early October, Putin appointed Army Gen. Sergey Surovikin, nicknamed “General Armageddon,” to be the overall theater commander. The move was likely aimed at appeasing Russia’s pro-war ultranationalist community, according to ISW. This community often criticizes Russian failures in Ukraine but is fervently behind the war.

“Putin likely viewed Surovikin as the last untarnished high-ranking commander in Ukraine he could appoint to overall theater command,” the think tank said. Surovikin’s time in charge was shorter than Zhidko’s but longer than Dvornikov’s — lasting about three months.

There were several significant aspects of the conflict that occurred during his tenure as the top commander. These included the start of a widespread campaign of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, Russia’s retreat from Kherson city, and the expanding influence of the Wagner Group paramilitary organization and its founder

YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN

Toward the end of 2022, Gerasimov had begun lobbying for his camp of leaders to secure more influence over the war in Ukraine by attempting to discredit Wagner’s operations. As 2023 rolled around, and Russian forces continued to suffer heavy losses in eastern Ukraine, Putin seemingly gave in to Gerasimov’s campaigning.

Russia’s defense ministry announced in mid-January that Surovikin would be replaced by Gerasimov and demoted to deputy commander of Russia’s military in Ukraine.

“The highly attritional capture of Soledar in January likely prompted Putin to acquiesce to Gerasimov’s campaigning and appoint Gerasimov as the overall theater commander for the winter-spring offensive operation,” ISW said. The capture of Soledar at high cost came as part of the brutal battle for Bakhmut, which Russia recently claimed to have taken, also at tremendous costs in terms of manpower and resources.

Western arms, including main battle tanks and armored vehicles, are currently flowing into Ukraine amid preparations for another Ukrainian counteroffensive push. For months, the Russians have been digging in and preparing a defense-in-depth strategy aimed at blunting the expected offensive. Though Putin’s decision-making process is murky, there’s a possibility the outcome of the coming fight could weigh heavily on Gerasimov’s future as commander.

It’s like White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby mockingly said in February, Putin changes “generals the way I change socks.”


20 posted on 05/29/2023 12:25:54 AM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com (Pray for God's intervention to stop Putin's invasion)
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