The recent appointment of Aleksey Dyumin, a former Kremlin agent, to manage defense operations in the Kursk region signals that President Vladimir Putin is on a mission to identify those responsible for the failures surrounding Ukraine’s recent incursions, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Reports suggest that Putin is eager to understand “how and why he was misled” about Ukraine’s military strategies and intentions. The ISW highlights that military bloggers believe Dyumin’s role could significantly impact several high-ranking officials in Russia’s military hierarchy.
Insights from Nikolay Ivanov, a Russian State Duma deputy from Kursk, affirm that Dyumin has been tasked with overseeing counterterrorism operations following a surprising cross-border raid by Ukraine that commenced on August 6.
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“Our primary objective is to repel the Ukrainian troops that have invaded the Kursk region,” Ivanov explained to RTVI. Following Dyumin’s involvement, speculation has arisen among military bloggers and political analysts regarding Putin’s dissatisfaction with his security agencies. This chatter hints at potential reshuffling within Russia’s military and political strategies.
Milbloggers have suggested that Dyumin’s appointment reflects a decisive action from “Putin’s team” to regain control after the recent security lapses, implying that the President is seeking clarity on how he was deceived about the ongoing situation in Kursk.
Russian journalist Alexander Sladkov remarked on his Telegram channel that Dyumin is “Putin’s man”, indicating he will ensure accuracy in reports delivered to the President.
This move comes amid scrutiny facing army chief Valery Gerasimov, who has been criticized for disregarding intelligence alerts about Ukraine preparing an assault into the Kursk region. Bloomberg noted that Kremlin insiders are growing frustrated with Gerasimov’s management of the conflict, especially as Ukrainian forces have made significant territorial gains in the area.
Currently, Ukraine’s advances in Kursk are outpacing Russian captures elsewhere—reportedly covering over 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) in recent days alone, according to Ukraine’s commander Oleksandr Syrsky.
In response to these developments, U.S. President Joe Biden stated that the situation poses “a real dilemma” for Putin, while White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified that the U.S. has no involvement in the matter, emphasizing that discussions about strategies remain solely between Ukraine and its leadership.