Ukraine Restructures Eastern Front: General Nikolyuk Steps Down, Two New Commands Created

Major General Viktor Nikolyuk announced he is leaving the post of commander of the East military grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The grouping, which was a temporary military management body, has been dissolved and replaced by two new commands: Center (led by Brigadier General Andriy Biletskyy) and Azov (led by Brigadier General Denys Prokopenko).

Nikolyuk's Legacy at the Eastern Front

Nikolyuk stated that he is passing on a fully combat-ready grouping capable of steadily conducting active defensive operations. During his command, Ukrainian forces successfully restrained the Russian advance in the Oleksandrivka direction and blocked enemy forces in Kostiantynivka. On the Slovyansk and Kramatorsk directions, a stable layered defense was built with reinforced units holding the front line, creating conditions to destroy enemy infiltrators.

Nikolyuk was appointed commander of Operational Command East in April 2026, replacing Brigadier General Dmytro Bratishko. He had previously commanded the Donetsk operational-tactical grouping. His role as commander of Operational Command East continues unchanged.

New Commands

The newly created Center command will cover the central Donbas directions, while the Azov command will oversee the southern sector. Andriy Biletskyy, commander of the Third Army Corps and Hero of Ukraine, leads the Center command, while Denys Prokopenko leads Azov.