Ukraine’s military dismissed Oleksandr Lutsenko on Saturday, the commander overseeing operations in the eastern Donetsk region. His firing came after his forces failed to prevent Russia’s attacks on Kyiv’s logistics hub. As a result, Russian forces quickly captured large areas of Ukrainian land. According to an official, Lutsenko will be reassigned within the army. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi has taken over his position.
Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, stated, “The battles are extremely tough. The Russians are throwing all available forces forward, trying to break through the defence of our troops.”
In a related development, Ukraine’s largest steelmaker, Metinvest, suspended operations at its only coking coal mine. This decision followed the advance of Russian forces, who reached within 2 kilometers of the mine near Pokrovsk. The mine was crucial, supplying half of Ukraine’s coal and supporting steel production.
Russian forces have recently made their fastest advances since 2022. They are now focusing on Pokrovsk and nearby towns, which are strategically important. These towns lie near major highways leading to Dnipropetrovsk and Dnipro, which are vital to Ukraine’s military operations.
Furthermore, Ukraine is defending its energy system from new missile strikes. Energy Minister German Galushchenko commented, “The enemy continues its terror. Once again, the energy sector across Ukraine is under massive attack.” These missile strikes are part of Russia’s ongoing campaign to damage Ukraine’s power grid during the winter months.
