Russia may soon reshuffle senior military command due to failed winter offensive – ISW

The relevant statement was made by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

On April 1, 2023, Russian milbloggers claimed that Russia’s defense ministry had recalled Russian Airborne Forces commander, Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky from leave after the ministry reportedly replaced him with Lieutenant General Oleg Makarevich on January 13.

Russia’s defense ministry never confirmed Teplinsky’s dismissal, and it is likely that the ministry placed him on leave so it could recall him to command the Airborne Forces whenever it deemed necessary.

Russian milbloggers claimed that Teplinsky immediately flew to the Russian Joint Grouping Headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar Krai, to assume command of the Airborne Forces, and that he is already planning future operations.

One milblogger mentioned that Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces and former Central Military District (CMD) Commander Colonel General Alexander Lapin flew with Teplinsky to the Joint Grouping Headquarters.

Russia’s defense ministry replaced Lapin with Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev as CMD commander officially on February 17 following intense public criticism of Lapin for his management of the Svatove-Kreminna line in the fall of 2022.

“It remains to be seen if Lapin will regain a role commanding forces in Ukraine,” the ISW noted.

Russian sources speculated starting on March 27 that Russia’s defense ministry has also recently dismissed Eastern Military District (EMD) Commander Colonel General Rustam Muradov in response to intense criticism of his command over significant losses in offensive operations near Vuhledar in early 2023.

A reminder that the Russian winter offensive operation has failed to achieve the Kremlin’s goal of seizing Donetsk and Luhansk region administrative borders by March 31.