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It could be the fourth time that Russia has appointed a commander-in-chief of the Western Military District in Ukraine in ten months of war. This is the prediction of the British intelligence services, which anticipate that the Russian authorities have already started the process to replace the current commander, Sergei Kuzovlev, after three months in office.

in the most recent reportThe British Ministry of Defense indicates that Kuzovlev is expected to be replaced by Lieutenant General Yevgeniy Nikiforovwho led the Russian attempt to capture kyiv in the early days of the invasion.

Latest Defense Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – December 30, 2022

Learn more about the UK government’s response: https://t.co/cAnpCkWqD1

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“As Chief of Staff of the Russian Group of Western Forces (EGF) during the first weeks of the invasion, Nikiforov He has reportedly been heavily involved in planning the disastrous attempt by the EGF and Russian air forces to advance on kyiv.“, can be read in the daily statement shared on social networks.

The Western Military District, one of the five Russian military districts, incorporates the border regions with Ukraine, including Belgorod and Bryansk. It also covers the Kaliningrad enclave.

According to the British ministry, Nikiforov’s command will also be responsible for defending the front line in the cities of Kreminna and Svatove in the Lugansk region. (Context, area where the fight has been concentrated).

In recent weeks, heavy fighting has focused on the Kreminna-Svatove line. The lieutenant general thus assumes an “important” role in Russian operations in Ukraine, at a time when an offensive attempt by both sides in that sector is “plausible”.

Where is the war going? Bakhmut, Svatove and Kreminna are obligatory stops. Lack of fuel delays battles

Changes in top Russian officials reflect ‘internal divisions’

Ukrainian intelligence services consider that the reason for the removal of Sergei Kuzovlev from his post was the “failure” in the preparation of the military counteroffensive in the direction of Lyman (Donetsk region). They indicate, however, that he served only one month as commander, contrary to the three months indicated by the British authorities.

Ukraine views the new change of commander as a “manifestation of an internal political struggle” in the Russian leadership. With the departure of Kuzovlev, there was a change in the direction, since he had the support of Sergei Shoigu, Russian Defense Minister, and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. Nikiforov is an axis candidate Sergei Surovikin, commander who currently leads the entire “special military operation” in Ukraine, and Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner group, a private military company that has operated in Ukraine.

The British Defense Ministry also sees the change in commander as a sign of divisions within Russian politics. “The continued changes in senior Russian officials likely reflect internal divisions over the future conduct of the Russian defense ministry in the war.”