What Putin Replacement of Top Lieutenant Says About Ukraine's Progress

The change of Russian command amid its operation in Kherson oblast shows the extent of the pressure Moscow's troops are facing in Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion, British defense officials have said.

In its daily update, the U.K. Ministry of Defense commented on reports widely circulated by Russian military bloggers that Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, the deputy commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, had replaced Colonel General Oleg Makarevich in charge of Moscow's southern forces.

The Russian defense ministry, which Newsweek has emailed, has not commented on the reports. The pro-Kremlin military blogger Rybar said that Makarevich had likely been stood down in the wake of Ukrainian successes in securing a limited foothold on the east bank of the Dnieper River in Kherson Oblast.

After launching its counteroffensive in June, Ukrainian forces redeployed troops near Antonovsky Bridge across the river, which reportedly raised concerns in Moscow about Kyiv's moves on its Russian-controlled left bank. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this month Ukraine had established a presence in the Krynky settlement there.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed proxy in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, said that Makarevich had been relieved of his post because he had given false reports to his superiors about the situation on the ground.

Russian milbloggers noted that Teplinsky was held in high regard by the Russian military and was experienced in operations in the area, having been in charge of Moscow's successful withdrawal from the Dnieper's west bank in 2022.

In an interview with Ukrainian TV broadcaster 1+1, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said Teplinsky was one of the "smart" Russian generals who had been removed from decision-making after the mutiny by the Wagner Group of mercenaries.

The British MOD said Teplinsky's appointment "is likely an indication of increased pressure on Russian forces defending the area" around Kherson where fighting has intensified as Ukrainian forces contest control on the Dnieper's eastern bank.

In April, the British MOD reported that Teplinsky had returned to an active role in Ukraine after being allegedly dismissed three months earlier due to an internal power struggle.

The MOD update on Tuesday added that it was "almost certain" that repelling Ukrainian attacks across the river and holding territory in Kherson "remains a high priority objective for Russian forces in Ukraine."

Russia had likely relocated troops from the Southern Military District's Dnieper Grouping of Forces (DGF) to reinforce the Zaporizhzhia sector, it added.

It comes amid reports of marginal gains by Ukrainian forces along two sectors of its front, near Bakhmut in the Donetsk oblast and in the Melitopol direction in western Zaporizhhia oblast.

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