According to British information, a Russian troop formation in a contested area in eastern Ukraine is likely to be given new leadership.
Lieutenant-General Yevgeny Nikiforov is likely to be in the process of assuming command of Russia’s Western Forces Group (WGF), Britain’s Defense Ministry wrote in its regular intelligence update on Friday. He would be at least the fourth commander at the head of the association since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.
According to British assessments, the WGF is almost certainly tasked with holding Russia’s right flank in the area around the cities of Kreminna and Swatove. The Ukrainian military reported progress near Kreminna on Thursday. An American think tank had previously announced that the Russian army was gathering troops in the Luhansk region and preparing for a decisive battle.
Strategically important city
Kreminna is considered a possible gateway to advance further in eastern Ukraine. The Russian military occupied the small town in mid-April after heavy fighting and from there prepared the further advance to the conurbation between Sievjerodonetsk and Lyssychansk. In return, Kreminna could now serve the Ukrainians as a staging area for the recapture of the two major cities after the capture.
The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a targeted disinformation campaign.
