The Atesh movement reports an attack on Russian command posts in Donetsk

According to information provided by the Atesh movement, the attack on Russian command posts took place on August 26. The targets were both the main and backup command points of Russian forces in occupied Donetsk. As Ukrainian partisans emphasize, the attack was extremely precise, which - according to Russian war correspondents - may suggest that General Milchakov was "handed over by his own people".

Pro-war Russian bloggers also reported the death of a high-ranking Russian military officer, but there is still no official confirmation from Moscow. The Russian authorities remain silent, which only fuels speculations and conjectures.

Who was General Sergei Milchakov?

General Sergei Milchakov is a well-known figure in the Russian army. He commanded the 1st Donetsk Army Corps from 2022, and in 2024 he took over as commander of the newly created 51st Army, created from the transformation of the above-mentioned corps. Milchakov was considered one of the key commanders of Russia's Southern Military District. In 2024, he received the prestigious title of Hero of Russia.

According to Russian military sources, General Milchakov commanded, among others, during fierce fighting for Avdiivka and Nju-York in the Donetsk Oblast. If his death is confirmed, he would be one of the highest-ranking Russian commanders killed during the war against Ukraine.

Who are the partisans of the Atesh movement?

Atesh is a Ukrainian-Tatar guerrilla movement whose name comes from the Crimean Tatar word meaning "fire". The group was established in 2022 and operates in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea, as well as in Russia itself. Atesh guerrillas are known for conducting reconnaissance activities and providing the Ukrainian army with information about Russian forces and military infrastructure.

The movement's first military actions were reported at the end of 2022. Since then, Atesh has regularly published reports about its operations, which often cause a stir in the Russian and Ukrainian media.