According to Reuters on December 14, General Oleksandr Tarnavsky was appointed to replace General Oleksandr Lutsenko as commander of the Donetsk strategic-operational group. Financial Times revealed that General Lutsenko will take up a new position in the Ukrainian army.
General Tarnavsky led the Tavriia operational-strategic group and played an important role in the operation to retake the city of Kherson in late 2022. However, he was also associated with the unsuccessful counteroffensive operation in Zaporizhzhia in the summer of 2023.
The appointment comes as General Lutsenko faces criticism from Ukrainian military bloggers and some lawmakers for failing to stop the Russian army's advance towards the strategic city of Pokrovsk.
Information from the Khortytsia operational-strategic group said that Russia has taken several positions in the villages around Pokrovsk, forcing Ukraine to retreat. In the past 24 hours, there have been 62 clashes in the area. Sources indicate that Russian forces are only about 1.5 km from Pokrovsk, according to blogger Yuri Podolyaka, and 3 km, according to the Deep State intelligence analysis group.
Pokrovsk, located about 20 kilometers from the administrative border of Donetsk Oblast, is an important intersection of roads and railways. Losing Pokrovsk would push the frontline closer to the center of the country, putting great pressure on the rear.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia controlled an additional 725 square kilometers of territory in Ukraine in November, achieving its fastest rate of advance since the beginning of the conflict. This is considered Russia's biggest territorial advance since March 2022.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has replaced several military leaders, including Army Commander Oleksandr Pavliuk, in preparation for a new phase of the conflict as it enters its fourth year. General Tarnavsky's appointment reflects Ukraine's efforts to respond to new challenges on the battlefield.
