Overview
- President Vladimir Putin announced the package of personnel and structural changes at a meeting with Defense Ministry leaders on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
- Colonel General Denis Lyamin was named head of the new Unmanned Systems Forces and tasked with completing the branch’s formation that began in 2025.
- Colonel General Valery Solodchuk was appointed Deputy Defense Minister to unite combined rear services and take responsibility for troops’ combat service support.
- Senior frontline commands were reshuffled with Colonel General Andrey Ivanayev moved to lead the Tsentr/Central Military District grouping and Lieutenant General Pyotr Bolgarev named acting commander of the Eastern Military District and the Vostok grouping.
- The Defense Ministry reassigned deputy-minister duties so one official oversees orders and equipment support while another focuses on advanced-weapons development, a change meant to speed procurement and improve materiel sustainment based on lessons from the special military operation and Russia’s growing reliance on drones.