Putin Replaces Aerospace Commander, Appoints EU-Sanctioned General

The reported change comes amid intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy and military infrastructure. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Moscow-installed head of the Donetsk region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 10, 2026. (Photo by Gavriil Grigorov / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the head of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, the branch responsible for air defense, following a series of high‑impact Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory. According to Russian outlet RBC , citing two sources familiar with the matter, General Viktor Afzalov, who had led the Aerospace Forces since 2023, has been replaced by Colonel General Aleksandr Chaiko. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The report was first published by the pro‑war Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber , which closely tracks developments in Russia’s air force. RBC reported that Chaiko is a veteran commander who led Russian forces in Syria from 2019 to 2021. In 2020, Putin reportedly awarded him the Hero of Russia medal under a classified decree. In March 2026, Chaiko was placed under EU sanctions , accused of taking a senior command role during Russia’s occupation of Bucha , the Kyiv‑region town where Ukrainian authorities and Western governments say Russian forces committed mass atrocities against civilians in 2022. The change in leadership comes amid a sharp increase in Ukrainian long‑range drone strikes over the past few months, many of which have targeted Russian energy infrastructure, including oil depots , refineries, and power facilities deep inside the country, The Moscow Times reported. The Kremlin has not commented on the reported change. Veronika Sukhanych is a political analyst with a foundation in governance, legal research, and international policy. Kyiv-born and educated in comparative politics, her background includes research on global financial institutions, responsible AI governance, and security policy.