Colonel Emil Ishkulov, former commander of the 80th Air Assault Brigade and current deputy commander of the 7th Air Assault Corps, is set to take up the post of head of the 11th Army Corps in the near future.
The unit is responsible for the defense of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk—key cities in Donetsk Region that remain the main axis of attack for Russian forces, Ukrainska Pravda reports.
In the role, Ishkulov will replace Brigadier General Oleksiy Maystrenko, who led the corps for six months. Media sources in the Defense Forces link the personnel changes to the fact that the previous leadership’s management approaches did not match today’s realities of decision-making.
Service members speak highly of the new commander’s professional skills and leadership qualities. Ishkulov’s appointment is expected to significantly strengthen defenses on the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk fronts. The Third Corps is also holding the line near these positions, and Ishkulov has a track record of successful cooperation with its leadership dating back to the offensive near Bakhmut in the summer of 2023.
- It was reported that in 2024 Ishkulov was removed from his post and transferred to serve as deputy commander of the 7th Air Assault Corps because he refused to send his troops to the Kursk operation.
- At the time, personnel of the 80th Air Assault Brigade recorded a video address to Oleksandr Syrskyy calling for Ishkulov to remain in the position.
- Air Assault Forces Command, commenting on the troops’ appeal, said Ishkulov was being transferred “to a higher position.”