On April 11, it was announced that Serhiy Sirchenko is no longer serving as the commander of the 11th Army Corps. According to information from the official page of the unit on Facebook, this decision is likely related to the recent loss of Siversk, located in the northern part of the Donetsk region.
This is reported by Finway
Summary of Serhiy Sirchenko’s Service on the Front Line
The publication notes that Sirchenko reflected on his work alongside his subordinates, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and navigating challenging trials in dangerous areas of the front. He highlighted that for nearly 500 days, he had not been in the rear but directly with the soldiers on the front line. The officer shared that during this time, he had to make difficult decisions, acknowledge his own mistakes, and act under challenging circumstances. However, he always remained alongside his comrades, rather than behind them.
“There are words that are hard to say out loud. These are among them. Almost 500 days in the position. Not in the rear. Not on paper. On the front line — together. Together with you. In one of the fiercest sections of the front in this war”
Sirchenko emphasized that war is not only about losses but also about forming true combat teams. He thanked the servicemen, referred to them as brothers-in-arms, and urged them to support one another in the future. The former commander paid special attention to the importance of maintaining humanity even in wartime, noting that this fundamentally distinguishes Ukrainian soldiers from the enemy. At the end of his address, he expressed confidence in Ukraine’s resilience and stated that he is proud of every soldier who was with him on the front line.
Loss of Siversk: Timeline of Events
Recall that on December 23, analysts from DeepState reported the final transition of Siversk under the control of Russian forces. At that time, representatives of the higher command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that they had full control over the city, but later the situation changed dramatically. As early as late November, the first breakthrough of Russian forces towards Siversk was recorded, after which they were able to establish themselves near the Bakhmutivka River and occupy a significant part of the eastern and central districts of the city over the course of a month. Subsequently, the situation in this section of the front deteriorated, leading to the loss of Siversk and the absence of prospects for its return in the near future.