Putin is trying to shift responsibility for Russian army's failures in Kharkiv region - ISW

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Thus, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation appointed a new commander in the Western Military District. He became lieutenant general Roman Berdinkov.  He replaced Oleksandr Zhuravlev.

As ISW notes, the Western Military District operated for some time in the north-east of the Kharkiv region, but without a clearly defined command.  During this period, Zhuravlev was not visible, and during this time Putin managed to change two commanders of the "western group of troops".

ISW suggests that such a move may indicate that Putin is thus trying to shift the responsibility for failures in Kharkiv region and other areas to Berdinkov.  It is also likely to be an attempt to defend the commander of the Central Military District, Colonel General Oleksandr Lapin, for his recent criticism of the actions of the Russian army around the Liman.

Also, ISW reports that the occupiers will probably not allow the dismissed director of the ZNPP, Ihor Murashov, to return to his position at the ZNPP.

"Russian officials are likely to try to use their physical removal of Murashov to assert further control over the nuclear power plant," the Institute writes.

In addition, it is noted that Russian officials have admitted that the Kremlin intends to occupy and illegally annex additional territories in the South and East of Ukraine and may change the declared borders of the occupied territories.