Russia has dismissed Lieutenant General Sukhrab Akhmedov as Navy deputy commander for coastal and ground forces following failed mechanized assaults that caused heavy casualties in December 2025, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Russian sources claim the removal came after disastrous operations in the Dobropillia tactical area of Donetsk Oblast. This marked the second time in under two years that the Russian military command has removed Akhmedov over battlefield failures in Ukraine.
A pattern of costly failures
ISW notes that Akhmedov previously commanded the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet and later led the 20th Combined Arms Army (CAA) of the Moscow Military District. The Russian military command removed him from the 20th CAA in May 2024 after complaints flooded the Russian information space. Critics pointed to his command of highly attritional assaults near Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast during winter 2022-2023 when he led the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade.
Additional complaints focused on his role in a Ukrainian strike against a Russian rear area near Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast during summer 2023. That strike resulted in significant Russian casualties.
December in Dobropillia
Russian milbloggers claim Akhmedov lost his most recent position due to failed mechanized assaults in the Dobropilla taictical area in December 2025. These operations resulted in heavy Russian casualties. One Russian milblogger claimed Akhmedov oversaw elements of three naval infantry brigades during the failed operations.
The 55th and 155th naval infantry brigades of the Pacific Fleet and the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet all reportedly suffered heavy losses in northern Sumy Oblast under his command.
