Russia still struggling with command issues in Ukraine operations

 ISW:

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Ukrainian news outlet Defense Express reported on April 27 that Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov will take personal command of the Russian offensive in the Izyum direction.[1] Citing unspecified Ukrainian military sources, Defense Express stated that Gerasimov is already in-theater and will command the offensive “at the operational and tactical level” and claimed the Russian military failed to create a single command structure under Southern Military District Commander Alexander Dvornikov. ISW cannot independently confirm this report. However, ISW previously assessed that Dvornikov’s appointment as overall commander in Ukraine would not solve Russia’s command and control challenges and likely strain his span of control.[2] If confirmed, the appointment of Russia’s senior general officer to command tactical operations indicates both the importance of the Izyum drive to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the breakdown in the Russian military’s normal chain of command.

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He should be careful about going to the front based on the demise of many Russian generals in this war.

What this shows is Putin's military is having trouble with a cohesive command structure and it appears to be a problem from top to bottom.  When troops are being abandoned and not being properly fed there is clearly a problem that is so deep it will be difficult for one person to change the course while combat is still taking place. 

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