Ukrainian command shake-up amid rapid Russian advances
General Oleksandr Lutsenko has been dismissed from the command of the "Donetsk" group, reports Ukrainska Pravda. According to the portal, Lutsenko's dismissal is related to the rapid advances of Russian forces toward the strategically important city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
General Oleksandr Lutsenko has been removed from his position as commander of the operational-tactical group "Donetsk." As reported by the portal Ukrainska Pravda, this decision is linked to the swift advancement of Russian forces toward the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.
Pokrovsk is a key logistical center for the Ukrainian army. Russia has aimed to capture it for several weeks, making it an area of intense fighting.
Kyiv must defend Pokrovsk
The city still operates a functioning mine, which is the only domestic supplier of coking coal for Ukraine's once giant steel industry. The fall of Pokrovsk would represent a significant defeat for Kyiv.
In October and November, Russian forces advanced toward Pokrovsk at the fastest pace since the beginning of the war.
General Lutsenko, responsible for defending this area, has been replaced by General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, who in 2022 led the counteroffensive in southern Ukraine, successfully recapturing Kherson.
