After analyzing the appointments made by V. Putin, experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that the head of Russia’s drone forces was announced. The position was taken by Colonel General Dmitry Lyamin.
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Until now, this branch of the military officially had no appointed commander. The so-called Russian “war correspondents” claimed in December 2025 that Yuri Vaganov had taken the position.
D. Lyamin’s appointment indicates that Y. Vaganov was removed even before the Kremlin decided to announce this appointment, experts write. ISW noted that Y. Vaganov faced sharp criticism from “Z” bloggers because he lacked military education and experience, and until February 2022, he sold plumbing supplies.
Evaluating the Russian leader’s personnel decisions, the institute’s experts pointed out that they are taking place against the backdrop of Ukraine’s medium and long-range strike campaigns, which are aimed at disrupting Russian logistics from rear areas to the front line, and which Russian forces have proven unable to resist in the short term.
Just a reshuffle
Experts believe that all the changes announced by V. Putin on August 5 are essentially reshuffles of existing commanders, rather than promotions of new commanders capable of changing the course of the war in Russia’s favor.
The Russian leader has long mostly transferred senior commanders between the front and the high command levels, except for a few cases where commanders were removed from their posts, ISW writes.
Moscow tries to “revive” its offensive in Ukraine
Assessing V. Putin’s personnel decisions, experts from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted that this happened after Russian forces demonstrated the slowest pace of progress in the past year.
Moscow is trying to “revive” its offensive in Ukraine, WSJ concluded.
The pace of the Russian military’s progress has greatly slowed, while Ukrainian drones are penetrating deeper into Russian territory. The growing capabilities of the Ukrainian defense forces to strike Russia’s economy, especially the oil industry and logistics chains, are increasing Kremlin concerns about Russia’s ability to continue the war of attrition, the publication writes.
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According to WSJ, Kyiv uses drone technology more effectively, while Moscow struggles to train operators and develop technological solutions.
What changes
15min reminds that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday changes in the commanders of Russian military groups in Ukraine. The newly appointed commanders have been tasked with the Kremlin’s previously unfulfilled mission – to quickly capture the entire Donbas. This is reported by the Russian news agency Interfax.
For the “Center” group, operating in the northwest and central parts of Donetsk region, 55-year-old Valery Solodchuk will be replaced by Andrey Ivanayev, previously the commander of the “East” group, the Kremlin leader announced during a meeting with the Ministry of Defense leadership.
“The ‘Center’ group is one of our main forces, carrying out the most important and responsible tasks related to the liberation of the Donetsk People’s Republic. And the question of who will lead the group is complicated,” Putin said.
V. Solodchuk, who is accused of involvement in the Bucha massacre, as seen from Putin’s statements, has been removed from direct command of the army and the unit’s orders will be issued by the combined rear service of the Ministry of Defense.
The “East” group, operating in the southern Donetsk direction, near the administrative border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, was entrusted by Putin to its chief of staff, Petr Bolgayev.
Appointed new drone forces commander
High-ranking Russian military officer Denis Lyamin will lead the new Russian Armed Forces drone forces, Putin said.
“It is well known to everyone that we made the decision to create a new branch of forces – drone forces. The task was to find a person who stood out best in this work. One of the most qualified specialists in this field is Denis Igorevich Lyamin, who until now fought in the ‘Center’ group as chief of staff,” the Kremlin leader explained.
