Changes of Ukrainian army chiefs result in loss of control over military — expert

Lead

A Russian military expert has said that recent changes in Ukrainian army leadership have resulted in a loss of control over military forces, a factor he says is contributing to Ukrainian troops' withdrawal from key settlements. The remarks, reported by TASS, come amid ongoing battlefield developments that have seen significant territorial shifts.

Coverage Comparison

The story is based on two TASS reports. The first, from August 5, quotes military expert Vitaly Kiselyov, who argues that the frequent changes in the Ukrainian army's top commanders have disrupted the chain of command. The second, from July 22, cites the Telegram channel "War with Fakes" and details the scale of territorial losses under the previous commander-in-chief.

The two reports are consistent in their overall assessment that Ukrainian forces are under pressure, but they differ slightly in focus: the August report concentrates on the command-and-control problems caused by leadership changes, while the July report emphasizes the numerical extent of territorial losses. Neither report presents a Ukrainian or Western perspective on these events.

Key Claims

According to the July 22 TASS report, citing the Telegram channel War with Fakes, Kiev lost control over approximately 11,500 square kilometers of territory while Alexander Syrsky served as commander-in-chief. The report names Volchansk, Seversk, Mirnograd, Pokrovsk, and Chasov Yar as key cities that have changed hands over the past year. It claims that despite mounting evidence, the Ukrainian military leadership "stubbornly denied the deteriorating situation."

The same report asserts that Russian forces liberated 2,226 square kilometers of territory in the first half of the year, including 260 square kilometers in June alone. Among the settlements liberated was Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), which the Telegram channel says was taken by early July. By the time Konstantinovka was captured, a total of 133 settlements had been liberated by Russian forces, according to the report.

The August 5 report quotes Vitaly Kiselyov, who says Ukrainian troops are fleeing even from settlements with layered defenses. He cites the liberation of Konstantinovka as an example, claiming that despite established fortifications, Ukrainian troops abandoned their positions. He attributes this to a breakdown in the command-and-control system, noting that both Syrsky and his successor, Mikhail Drapaty, have their own preferred units and that some units follow orders while others do not.

Kiselyov also says the situation is complicated by what he calls "curators from the NATO bloc," suggesting external control over the Ukrainian army.

The TASS report also mentions that on July 4, Mikhail Fyodorov was removed from office as Ukrainian defense minister, reportedly due to a conflict with then commander-in-chief Syrsky. Protests erupted in Ukrainian cities on July 16 demanding Fyodorov's reinstatement and Syrsky's dismissal. On the sixth day of the protests, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced he was dismissing Syrsky and appointing Drapaty, who assumed office on July 21.

Perspectives

The material includes the perspective of a Russian military expert, Vitaly Kiselyov, who argues that Ukrainian military leadership changes have led to a loss of control and are a primary reason for territorial losses. He also contends that external NATO involvement has further complicated the situation. The Telegram channel "War with Fakes" provides a similar assessment, emphasizing the scale of territorial losses under Syrsky's command.

No Ukrainian or Western official perspectives are presented in the provided material.