Ukraine’s intense offensive against Russian forces has struck several severe blows at the heart of the Kremlin’s military hierarchy. Reports suggest that top generals and commanders from Moscow have been obliterated, leaving the Russian military in disarray.
Ukraine Strikes at the Heart of Russian Military Leadership!
Kyiv’s special forces orchestrated a devastating assault, striking the core of the Russian military leadership.
Key Commanders Downed by Kyiv
Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet and a key figure in annexed Crimea was allegedly targeted in a missile attack on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol, and the Kremlin remains silent on the matter.
Most Important Deaths Since Counter-Offensive Began
Since the beginning of the slow-burning counter-offensive by Ukraine, Russian Colonel Andrey Kondrashkin was also eliminated in July. Kondrashkin led the charge which took over Mariupol in 2022.
More Top General’s Meet Their Doom
Another significant blow to Russia’s top military command was the death of Vasily Popov, who was in charge of the 247th Air Assault Regiment just days before Kondrashkin. His predecessor, Colonel Contastine Zizevsky, met his fate in 2022.
Top Commander’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
While reports suggest Admiral Viktor Sokolov’s demise, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video depicting top officers, apparently including Sokolov, in a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, but can they be trusted?
“Serious Achievement” Praised
Experts acknowledge this as a remarkable achievement, disrupting the Russian forces’ ability to plan and coordinate operations, “the liquidation of the commander of one of the Russian strike formations is a serious achievement,” said journalist Yurii Butusov.
Highest Ranked Killing Since Start of the War
Since the beginning of the war, no higher general has been neutralized by Ukrainian forces, making this a significant moment in the war’s dynamic.
“Degrading Russian Forces” Will Have an Impact on the War
Ukraine’s tactics are “part of a wider strategy to disrupt their enemies’ command-and-control network, with the ultimate goal of significantly degrading Russian forces’ ability to plan and conduct coordinated operations,” said Frederico Borsari, Leonardo Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis.
The Impact of Targeting Commanders on the Battlefield
Former Ukrainian soldier Viktor Kovalenko said that targeting top military commanders causes “temporary localized chaos” among the Russian military.
Motivation Blow for Russia
The loss of senior leaders hampers Russia’s ability to react and plan, disrupts their coordination, and decreases motivation.
Retired General Praises Attack on Top Russian Generals
Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said, “It slows down the Russians’ ability to react, to anticipate. It disrupts their planning because now they’ve got to reconstruct, they’ve got to rebuild or find a new place.”
Ukraine’s Relentless Pursuit of Victory!
Ukraine’s relentless offensive, punctuated by calculated strikes on Russian military leadership, raises the stakes in the ongoing conflict, putting pressure on the Kremlin.
The post Ukraine Strikes Severe Blows at the Heart of Russia’s Military Hierarchy, Marking a Change in the Power Balance of the War first appeared on Edge.Media
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / ChameleonsEye. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.