Russian Defense Minister Shoigu has officially relieved the commanders of the Western and Southern Military Districts.
Colonel General Sergei Kuzovlev has been appointed as the head of the Southern Military District, a reshuffle from his prior posting as commander of the Western Military District. Army General Aleksandr Vladimirovich Dvornikov has been relieved and it is not clear if he will be reposted.
According to Russian state owned media: “Kuzovlev was appointed commander of the Western Military District a little over a month ago, on December 13, 2022. From November 2020 to February 2021, he commanded a group of troops of the Russian armed forces in Syria, before that – units of the Western and Southern military districts.”
The Western Military District, which was previously commanded by Colonel Geberal Sergei Kuzovlev, is now headed by Lieutenant General Yevgeny Nikiforov.
According to Russian state owned media: “Since 2020, Nikiforov has been Chief of Staff – First Deputy Commander of the Eastern Military District, before that – Deputy Commander of the Western Military District.
This reshuffle has been officially confirmed from Russian Minsitry of Defense sources despite rumors of the reassignments circulating since June. This reshuffle also comes only a few weeks after Russian Chief of Staff Gerasimov was appointed as overall commander of forces in Ukraine, relieving Surovikin, who was also serving as commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
