Sirchenko Steps Down as Commander of 11th Army Corps

Brigadier General Serhiy Sirchenko is stepping down as commander of the 11th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“I was not an ideal commander. There are no ideals in war. At times I applied pressure. I made mistakes. I remained silent when I should have spoken. But I know one thing for certain: I never stood behind you—I stood beside you,” Sirchenko said in a farewell statement.

According to sources cited by Громадське, Sirchenko is expected to be replaced by Brigadier General Olesiy Maistrenko, who currently commands the 169th Training Center. Maistrenko previously led the 54th Mechanized Brigade and the Soledar Tactical Group.

Background to the dismissal

Sirchenko came under increased scrutiny from higher command following the loss of Siversk in 2025. The setback led to the dismissal of Colonel Oleksiy Konoval, commander of the 54th Mechanized Brigade, and Colonel Volodymyr Potyeshkin of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade.

The Operational Task Force East, under which the 11th Army Corps operates, subsequently removed the corps from direct responsibility for managing the situation around Siversk. In its place, a separate formation—the Soledar Tactical Group—was established under Maistrenko’s command. This effectively sidelined the 11th Army Corps, leaving Sirchenko’s future uncertain.

What comes next

Following Maistrenko’s expected appointment to lead the 11th Army Corps, it is likely that the temporary Soledar Tactical Group will be disbanded as command structures are consolidated.