UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 427 - APRIL 24, 2023

Russian Milbloggers speculate that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered further changes to the military leadership on April 20.

A prominent milblogger claims that Putin signed a decree on April 20 regarding a series of military command changes and officially dismissed the commander of the Eastern Military District, Colonel-General Rustam Muradov. He noted that Muradov's dismissal is likely due to his disastrous offensive in Vuhledar, which resulted in many casualties among Russian personnel and significant losses of military equipment. The milblogger adds that the decree also forced Army General Aleksandr Dvornikov - who reportedly commanded the Russian forces in Ukraine in April 2022 - to resign. He claims that Putin retired former commander of the Western Military District, Colonel-General Alexander Shuralyov, as well as other unnamed commanders. The milblogger assesses that the Kremlin is now relying on the newly appointed commander of the Russian Airborne Troops, Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky, to achieve decisive results.

Ukrainian forces likely carried out a drone strike on the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) base in Sevastopol in the early morning hours of April 24.

Some Russian sources deny claims by other Russian milbloggers that Ukrainian forces have established permanent positions on the eastern (left) bank of Kherson Oblast.

The complete Russian Offensive Update 427 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

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