Russian western army group commanders fired following major defeat, Ukrainian intelligence says

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Aiming to “restore robust control” over the troops, the former commander of Army Group Center, Alexander Lapin, will now assume command of Army Group West. Corresponding staff transfers are underway, the message said.

The fate of the now-sacked lieutenant-general, Roman Berdinkov, remains unclear.

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“He (Berdinkov) was given the command of Army Group West on Aug. 26, replacing lieutenant-general Andrei Sychevoy – who was in command for just three weeks,” MID’s message reads.

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Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi said that Ukrainian forces have liberated over 3,000 square kilometers of land in Kharkiv Oblast since Sept. 1, and are now within 50 kilometers of the Russian border.

The Russian Defense Ministry has acknowledged the retreat from Kharkiv Oblast, alleging it was “regrouping” its forces in order to bolster the Donetsk Oblast front.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine