Putin Has Replaced The Commander Of Russia's Air Defense Forces

Because of failures with drone attacks.

Putin has replaced the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which includes air and missile defense forces (air and missile defense).

Colonel General Viktor Afzalov, who had been in charge of the Aerospace Forces since 2023, has been replaced by Colonel General Alexander Chaiko, RBC reported, citing a source familiar with the situation.

54-year-old Chaiko, a graduate of the Moscow Suvorov School, commanded Russian troops in Syria in the late 2010s and has been in charge of the Eastern Military District since 2021. According to the EU, Chayko, who was awarded the title of Hero of Russia, was involved in the events in Bucha: he led a group accused of massacring civilians near Kiev. On March 16, 2026, the fourth anniversary of the tragedy, the EU imposed personal sanctions on Chayko along with eight other Russian military officers.

Putin decided to change the commander of the Russian Air Force - the forces responsible for air defense, among other things - after a series of drone attacks that the air defense failed to repel.

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