Under Drapaty, Ishkulov Takes Over Army Corps for the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk Agglomeration

Ishkulov appointed to lead the 11th Army Corps

According to Radiotrek — Світ: On August 17, 2026, Radio Trek reported that Emil Ishkulov has been appointed commander of the 11th Army Corps, the formation tasked with the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. The decision was made by Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapaty, who promoted Ishkulov. Earlier, in late July 2024, Ishkulov had been removed from his position as commander of the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade. The move is part of a broader reshuffle under Ukraine's new military leadership.

Kursk operation and Ishkulov's position

The report also references the start of the Kursk operation on August 6, 2024. According to military blogger Serg Marco (Oleksandr Karpyuk), Ishkulov did not refuse to follow orders; rather, he criticized whether the offensive plan was realistic. Marco said Ishkulov made his objections openly during planning, pointing out weaknesses in the strategy, and this displeased his superiors.

"From what I heard, Ishkulov said directly during planning that the overall offensive plan was unrealistic." - Serg Marco

Andriy Biletskyi voiced support for Ishkulov, stressing his principled stance and sense of responsibility as an officer:

"I don't know this officer, but I heard a great deal about him from airborne troops in the Kursk region, including that he was a principled and responsible officer respected within the brigade." - Serg Marco

According to comments in the report, Ishkulov also served as deputy commander of the 7th Air Assault Corps after being dismissed from the 80th Brigade. Marco added that the task force received additional forces and equipment later on, and the Ukrainian forces ended up occupying a sector roughly along the lines Ishkulov had forecast.

Seen in this light, Ishkulov's new appointment can be read as acknowledgment of his military skills and experience, especially in handling combat operations under difficult conditions. Commenters on the article noted that the colonel has a genuine military education and a firm understanding of combat employment and command.

Ishkulov's move to lead the 11th Army Corps also signals changes underway in Ukraine's military command structure, likely intended to improve strategy and combat performance. His track record, including his blunt assessment of the Kursk operation plans, may point to a growing emphasis on realistic operational planning in today's military conflicts.