The defense of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk entrusted to legendary generals Biletsky and Prokopenko. What is Ukraine's plan?

The Office of the President of Ukraine reported that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mykhailo Drapatyi, presented relevant proposals to the head of state during a security meeting on August 26.

"To enhance the effectiveness of the defense of Donetsk Oblast, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine submitted proposals for the creation of two groupings. They will be commanded by Heroes of Ukraine Andriy Biletsky and Denys Prokopenko," states the message from the Office of the President of Ukraine.

"The defense of Donetsk Oblast will be handled by commander-leaders who are capable of doing so, who are trusted, and who are followed," commented Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa on this decision.

The Head of Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, with the call sign "Madyar," positively assessed the decision to create new groupings in Donetsk Oblast.

"This is Smart War. The newly created troop groupings of Redis (Denys Prokopenko's call sign. — Ed.) and Biletsky. The time of network-centric warfare. Full synchronization with the USS grouping, the shortest 'Sensor - Shooter' chain," he noted.

Currently, Prokopenko commands the 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard, while Biletsky commands the 3rd Army Corps. The area of responsibility for the 3rd Army Corps is the front section between Lyman in Donetsk Oblast and Borova in Kharkiv Oblast.

"Azov" is responsible for the front section in the Dobropillia and Druzhkivka areas of Donetsk Oblast.

Army corps fighting in neighboring sectors will likely fall under the command of the new groupings. For instance, the 11th Army Corps is fighting alongside the 3rd Army Corps in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk direction. Experienced Colonel Emil Ishkulov recently became its commander.

The 19th Army Corps is responsible for the defense of the neighboring Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka. The commander also changed here — in August, General Valer Skred took charge of the corps.

Near Dobropillia and south of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, the 7th Air Assault Corps and the 20th Army Corps are fighting.

Apparently, the new groupings that will defend Donetsk Oblast will operate in the format of operational-strategic troop groupings — a unit that was eliminated in 2025 during the corps reform in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Military analyst Mykola Bielieskov also believes that the creation of two groupings based on a certain number of corps is an attempt to solve the problem of operational-strategic level command.

It refers to the actual absence of a proper "middle-tier" command system in Ukraine, meaning an operational-strategic one, on the battlefield. This led to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine being forced to assume these functions for an extended period.

According to Bielieskov, Ukraine needs to "urgently put things in order" regarding both the bifurcation of the Commander-in-Chief's functions and the absence of a middle command tier.

"Because if the second problem is not solved, there will simultaneously be both the temptation and the necessity for the Commander-in-Chief to descend to the appropriate level more often than needed and engage less in strategic command," he believes.

The press service of the 1st Army Corps refused to comment to the BBC on the details of creating the new grouping led by commander Prokopenko. The press service of the 3rd Army Corps is still reviewing the BBC's request and has not yet provided a response.

Павялічыць

What is the situation in Donetsk Oblast?

The reorganization of troops is taking place amid a rather difficult security situation in Donetsk Oblast.

In late spring and summer of 2026, Russia chose this particular section of the front as a priority for its offensive. It is here that the most numerous and combat-ready Russian grouping operates.

"Putin's unchanging primary goal on the front is Kostiantynivka - Sloviansk. The last deadline he gave his generals is to complete the occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts by the end of the year. This is impossible. This is our answer," President Zelenskyy told reporters on August 22.

As of August 26, Russian troops managed to approach within approximately 6 kilometers of the outskirts of Sloviansk and about 8 kilometers of Kramatorsk. The main battles are taking place near the villages of Rai-Oleksandrivka, Mykolaivka, Orykhuvatka, Vasyutynske, and Malynivka.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced the occupation of the neighboring city of Kostiantynivka on July 3. Ukrainian authorities deny the loss of the settlement.

Foreign OSINT analysts, such as the American "Institute for the Study of War" (ISW), also indicate that Ukrainian positions likely still remain in the northern part of Kostiantynivka.

It is also reported that Russian military personnel have already approached the outskirts of Dobropillia and Lyman and are trying to break into the residential areas of these settlements.

The Ukrainian analytical OSINT project DeepState states that as of August 26, Russian military personnel are actively penetrating the residential quarters of Kostiantynivka and also bypassing it from the western and eastern flanks.

"However, Chasiv Yar is currently in the greatest danger, with the enemy establishing control over the surrounding area. Positions are being held within the city itself, but if the flanks fall, particularly in the section above, the grouping in Chasiv Yar will face extreme difficulties," the report states.

Regarding the Sloviansk direction, according to DeepState data, Russian military personnel have already begun penetrating Mykolaivka, which is 6 kilometers from the city, and are also attempting to establish themselves in Rai-Oleksandrivka.

"The enemy is creating a foundation for developing offensive actions on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk... In particular, cities and agglomerations are being destroyed by constant shelling," DeepState analysts summarize.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced in August the capture of 15 settlements in Donetsk Oblast, including Hannivka, which is 2 kilometers from Dobropillia; Petrivka, 6 kilometers from Druzhkivka; Orykhuvatka, 8 kilometers from Sloviansk; and Pershomariivka, 6 kilometers from Kramatorsk.

It is likely that Russia will attempt to organize the assault on these cities during the upcoming autumn-winter campaign. The more losses Russian troops suffer during the storming of these cities, the greater the likelihood that the Russian offensive impulse will fade, and then the war will stop.

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