Personnel changes in the command of the military districts of Russia are aimed at smoothing out the previous failures of the generals in Ukraine.
In addition, by changing command, the Kremlin wants to reduce tensions between the Russian Defense Ministry and the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgen Prigozhin. This is stated in the new report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for February 18.
As you know, on February 18, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that it had appointed Lieutenant General Andriy Mordvichev as Commander of the Central Military District (TsVO) and earlier appointed Colonel General Sergei Kuzovlev Commander of the Southern Military District (Air Defense), and Lieutenant General of the Western Military District (ZVO). Yevgeny Nikiforov and Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov as commander of the Eastern Military District (SVO).
Experts believe that the formalization of the commanders of the military districts is likely part of an effort to distance the Russian army from past failures and prepare them for a new large-scale offensive in Ukraine. Also in this way, the aggressor wants to more clearly delineate the areas of responsibility of each military district in Ukraine.
The ISW report indicates that they appointed persons who were neutral in the struggle between the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgen Mrigozhin, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoig, as commanders of military districts. Thus, Moscow wants not only to reassure both sides, but also to have potential scapegoats in case of future failures in Ukraine.
Analysts also believe that Prigozhin likely launched an intensified information campaign against Shoig in response to his possible role in preventing the continuation of the campaign to recruit prisoners, as well as the general decrease in the influence of the Wagner PKK.
The report also states that Prigozhin’s decline in popularity is likely to limit the operational capabilities of the Wagnerites in Ukraine.
Recall that earlier at the American Institute for the Study of War they came to the conclusion that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin used the “Wagnerites” in a difficult time for the regular army, but was never going to take steps towards Prigogine in his desire to gain additional influence.
Source: Racurs
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