Zelensky Appoints Top Commanders to Reinforce Donetsk Oblast

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 26 that Andrii Biletskii, commander of the Third Army Corps, and Denys Prokopenko, commander of the National Guard's 1st Corps, will lead reorganized units to reinforce Ukrainian positions in Donetsk Oblast. The announcement followed a visit by Zelensky and Commander in Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi to the Oleksandrivka sector, located at the junction of the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk oblasts. During the visit, Zelensky met with several military leaders, including Airborne Forces Commander Oleh Apostol and Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi, to discuss improving the effectiveness of Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. Both Biletskii and Prokopenko have extensive combat experience. Prokopenko fought in the defense of Mariupol and was held in Russian captivity until September 21, 2022. Biletskii fought in the defense and liberation of Kyiv Oblast, as well as in the liberation of Kherson Oblast and battles for Avdiivka. Both men were previously associated with the Azov unit, which evolved from a volunteer battalion into the 12th Special Forces Brigade and later the 1st Azov Corps. The reinforced units will be deployed to heavily contested areas of the Donetsk sector, including Lyman and Dobropillia. Zelensky also emphasized the need to strengthen protections for Zaporizhzhia, which faces frequent Russian air attacks.