Russia changes commander of Kherson front

The Russian occupying forces have replaced the commander of Russia’s Dnieper Grouping of Forces on the Kherson front, appointing Mikhail Teplinsky, Commander of the Russian Airborne Forces and Deputy Commander of the Combined Grouping of Forces, to this position.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS

Details: Colonel General Oleg Makarevich was reportedly the commander of the Dnieper (Dnipro) grouping on the Kherson front until now.

Previously: Before that, on 27 October, the Russian Defence Ministry officially announced that by a decree of Vladimir Putin, Viktor Afzalov had been appointed as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, replacing Sergei Surovikin.

Background:

• In January 2023, UK Defence Intelligence reported that Teplinsky was likely sacked as one of Russia's key operational commanders, reflecting divisions within the Russian leadership.
• A UK intelligence review indicated that Teplinsky was responsible for the relatively successful withdrawal of Russian troops from the western bank part of Kherson Oblast in November 2022. He was praised in Russia as a capable and pragmatic commander.
• However, in April, UK intelligence noted that Teplinsky had rejoined the war in Ukraine after having been reportedly dismissed from his post by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the Russian General Staff. "General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of Russia’s corps of airborne troops, the VDV, has highly likely returned to a major role in Ukraine," the review noted.

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