Shamil Krutkov has been appointed deputy commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces with a stated task that goes beyond a personnel change: creating a direct link between the command and battalions, regiments and brigades. Announced on 10 November, the appointment signals an effort to shorten the path between frontline units’ practical problems and higher-level decisions.
Ukraine’s Ground Forces announced the appointment, as reported by Ukrinform. Krutkov, a colonel, had led the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Kholodnyi Yar, since November 2024. The service said his key area of work would be direct communication with tactical-level units, aimed at identifying problems quickly and resolving them faster.
The operational rationale is straightforward. Fewer layers between a brigade and the command can make urgent requirements more visible to those able to act on them. The Ground Forces said direct interaction at the “Ground Forces Command–brigade” level should speed decision-making and improve the provision of urgent needs for combat units.
That is an institutional objective, not yet an established result. The announcement provides no effective date, detailed mandate, reporting structure or performance data for the new arrangement. Still, the assignment’s explicit focus matters: the Ground Forces are publicly tying better command performance to whether tactical units can bring practical problems directly to the level where decisions are made.
Sources
- Укрінформ · Source date: 2026-11-10
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-10