Ukraine's commander-in-chief disbanded Dnipro Operational Strategic Group
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi had disbanded the Dnipro Operational Strategic Group (formerly known as Khortytsia) at the end of September.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda article (English translation coming soon)
Details: The Dnipro Operational Strategic Group was responsible for a significant stretch of the front line from the city of Zaporizhzhia to Kharkiv Oblast, including managing ammunition distribution between brigades. Its functions are now being transferred to troop groupings and newly formed corps.
Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi headed the group for eight months. According to the article, he will retain his post as Joint Forces Commander and, along with his team, relocate to the north-eastern front, where he will lead one of the troop groupings. His area of responsibility will be reduced by about half.
One of Ukrainska Pravda's sources, an experienced military officer, described this as "a way to remove a competitor".
Quote from a colonel: "On the one hand, this is a logical step, because the Operational Strategic Group layer is disappearing – and it should disappear with the transition to corps. But on the other hand, this step changes nothing, because Syrskyi still commands everything. What reforms? Not a single corps is commanding its full set of troops; no one has the authority to manoeuvre. We tried to get rid of tactical groups, but now they've created another one in the Serebrianka Forest."
Background:
- On 11 August, DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, reported that Russian forces had intensified their advance near Dobropillia in recent days, particularly trying to gain a foothold near the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road. The maps they published showed this advance in the form of two "wedges" near Dobropillia.
- The Dnipro Operational Strategic Group stated that on the Pokrovsk and Dobropillia fronts, a small group of Russian soldiers – about 10 – managed to breach the first line of Ukrainian defence, but this did not mean they had seized control of the territory shown on the analytical maps.
- On 1 June, Russian forces launched a missile strike on a training unit of the Ground Forces, killing at least 12 and injuring more than 60.
- That same day, Drapatyi submitted his resignation report over the tragedy, saying he had failed to fully ensure the execution of his orders as commander.
- Drapatyi later stated that he would remain in service, having spoken with President Zelenskyy and received new orders from him.
- On 3 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as Joint Forces Commander.
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