Putin Abruptly Appoints New Donbas CO Called 'Stupid Drunk Known For Meat Attacks'

The implication appears to be that Putin couldn't care less about casualties (as is well known) but is frustrated that his troops have made so few gains despite their concentration of resources for Donbas region attacks. 

The appointment of a brutal leader like Ivanayev is expected to generate more meat attacks and massive casualties but with better territorial gains from the Kremlin's perspective. JL

James Bickerton reports in Newsweek:

The Kremlin has appointed Lieutenant General Andrei Ivanayev as commander of the forces leading the assault in Ukraine's Donbas region. Russian forces have made grueling advances in the Donbas, though his troops only partially control it and this has taken place at a massive cost to Russia. Moscow suffered 2,000 casualties in a single day in November. Ivanayev's appointment was condemned; "General Ivanayev has been appointed commander of 'Vostok.' They are reporting from the field that he is incredibly stupid and permanently drunk, not noted for anything other than failed meaty assaults at the front."

The Kremlin has appointed Lieutenant General Andrei Ivanayev as commander of the Vostok Battalion group of forces, which is leading the assault in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, according to state affiliated media.

The popular Ukrainian military Telegram channel Country Politics, which has more than 290,000 followers, reported Ivanayev's appointment on Friday suggesting it was tied to a visit by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov to the region.

Over the past year, Russian forces have made grueling but steady advances in the Donbas, which President Putin formally annexed as part of Russia in September 2022 though his troops only partially control it. However this has taken place at a massive cost to Russia. The Ukrainian defense ministry said Moscow suffered 2,000 casualties in a single day in November. It remains to be seen whether the appointment of a new commander will lead to a change in military tactics from the Russians.

According to the Country Politics channel, Belousov "arrived in the zone of responsibility" of the Vostok group, to hear reports and hand out state awards, during which Ivanayev's appointment was officially announced. The channel claims there were reports in Russian media that Ivanayev had been appointed on November 26.

 

In the past few weeks, Russian forces have advanced toward the town of Velyka Novosilka in the southern Donbas province of Donetsk. If seized, Ukrainian military bloggers warned it would allow Moscow to bypass a defensive line further north.

Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti confirmed that Ivanayev is now in command on Telegram during a report on Belousov's visit.

It said: "Belousov inspected the Vostok troop group, heard reports and presented state awards."In a month, the group's units liberated seven populated areas and took control of an area of ​​more than 300 square kilometers, Commander Andrei Ivanayev reported to the minister."

Civilians wearing military uniforms take part in a military training organized by Ukrainian soldiers of The Third Separate Assault Brigade in Kyiv, on November 23, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has appointed...  TETIANA DZHAFAROVA/AFP/GETTY

Ivanayev's appointment was condemned by the Russian Alex Parker Returns Telegram channel, which has more than 240,000 followers, and is closely linked to Wagner

 

The channel said: "General Ivanayev has been appointed commander of 'Vostok.' They are reporting from the field that he is an incredibly stupid and permanently drunk scumbag, who has not been noted for anything other than failed meaty assaults at the front."

 

While adhering to nationalist ideology, senior Wagner figures have been fiercely critical of how the Russian military has been conducting the war in Ukraine, clashing with senior army commanders.

In June 2023, the group mutinied and marched on Moscow before then leader Yevgeny Prigozhin negotiated a deal with the Kremlin. Just months later Prigozhin and several other Wagner leaders were killed when their aircraft crashed in Tver oblast, north of Moscow, which U.S. intelligence blamed on an internal explosion.