Putin reshuffles commanders and creates Russia drone force

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reshuffled the leadership of the country's military, appointing new commanders for key operational groups and establishing a dedicated branch for drone warfare. The changes, announced during a televised meeting at the Kremlin on Wednesday, August 5, are framed by the Kremlin as an adaptation to the evolving demands of the conflict in Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, and other senior commanders. Putin stated the moves were intended to improve the structure of the Defense Ministry based on lessons learned from what Russia calls its "special military operation." The reshuffle largely involves the reassignment and promotion of experienced commanders rather than introducing entirely new leadership.

A central change is the formal appointment of Col. Gen. Denis Lyamin as commander of the newly established Unmanned Systems Forces. This branch is dedicated to coordinating drone warfare across the Russian armed forces. Putin instructed Lyamin to complete the formation of the new service, signaling a centralized push to expand Russia's use of unmanned systems. Lyamin...