Aleksandr Zhuravlyov

Александр Журавлёв
🇷🇺 RussiaActive
Role
Commander, Western Military District; Commander, "Group North" (2024)
Rank
Colonel General
War Period
2022 – present

Colonel General Aleksandr Zhuravlyov commanded Russia's Western Military District and was responsible for operations in Kharkiv Oblast during 2022. After the Russian defeats and territorial losses in Kharkiv Oblast during September 2022, Zhuravlyov was initially removed from operational command but retained administrative roles. He was reappointed to lead the "Group North" offensive in May 2024, commanding the surprise cross-border assault into northern Kharkiv Oblast that captured Vovchansk and advanced toward Kupyansk. Hero of Russia recipient and decorated veteran of Syria and Chechnya campaigns.

Key Operations

  • —Western Military District command in Ukraine (early 2022)
  • —Kharkiv Oblast operations (Feb–Sep 2022)
  • —Group North command and Vovchansk offensive (May–Jul 2024)
  • —Kupyansk axis offensive pressure (Aug 2024–present)

Notable

Zhuravlyov received the Hero of Russia award for operations in Syria. His redeployment to lead the 2024 Kharkiv offensive after earlier setbacks reflected Russia's institutional preference for tested commanders regardless of prior operational failures. The May 2024 offensive he commanded achieved significant initial surprise, capturing ~10 km of Ukrainian territory in 48 hours.

Other Russia Commanders

Vladimir Putin
Active
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Valery Gerasimov
Active
Chief of the General Staff / Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Sergei Surovikin
Dismissed
Former Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Yevgeny Prigozhin
KIA
Wagner Group Founder & Commander
Alexander Dvornikov
Dismissed
Former Overall Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Mikhail Mizintsev
Active
Director of Russia's National Defense Management Center; commander of Mariupol siege
Mikhail Teplinsky
Active
Commander of Russian Airborne Forces (VDV)
Rustam Muradov
Dismissed
Former Commander of the Eastern Military District
Aleksandr Lapin
Dismissed
Commander of the Central Military District ("Group Center")
Andrei Mordvichev
Active
Commander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army; later Commander of "Group South"
Oleg Salyukov
Active
Commander-in-Chief of Russian Ground Forces
Sergei Shoigu
Replaced
Former Minister of Defence of Russia; Secretary of the Security Council
Andrei Belousov
Active
Minister of Defence of Russia
Yunus-bek Yevkurov
Active
Deputy Minister of Defence of Russia
Oleg Tsokov
KIA
Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District
Gennady Anashkin
Active
Commander of the "Group South" forces

Related Battles & Operations

Kharkiv Counteroffensive
Sep 6 - Sep 12, 2022
Ukrainian Victory
Battle of Vovchansk
May – Jul 2024
Ongoing
Battle of Kupyansk
Sep 2022; Aug 2024 – ongoing
Ongoing
View all major battles →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Aleksandr Zhuravlyov?
Colonel General Aleksandr Zhuravlyov commanded Russia's Western Military District and was responsible for operations in Kharkiv Oblast during 2022. After the Russian defeats and territorial losses in Kharkiv Oblast during September 2022, Zhuravlyov was initially removed from operational command but retained administrative roles. He was reappointed to lead the "Group North" offensive in May 2024, commanding the surprise cross-border assault into northern Kharkiv Oblast that captured Vovchansk and advanced toward Kupyansk. Hero of Russia recipient and decorated veteran of Syria and Chechnya campaigns.
What is Aleksandr Zhuravlyov's role in the Ukraine war?
Aleksandr Zhuravlyov (Colonel General) served as Commander, Western Military District; Commander, "Group North" (2024) on the Russia side. Service period: 2022 – present. Current status: Active.
What key operations was Aleksandr Zhuravlyov involved in?
Western Military District command in Ukraine (early 2022). Kharkiv Oblast operations (Feb–Sep 2022). Group North command and Vovchansk offensive (May–Jul 2024). Kupyansk axis offensive pressure (Aug 2024–present).
What is notable about Aleksandr Zhuravlyov in the context of the Ukraine war?
Zhuravlyov received the Hero of Russia award for operations in Syria. His redeployment to lead the 2024 Kharkiv offensive after earlier setbacks reflected Russia's institutional preference for tested commanders regardless of prior operational failures. The May 2024 offensive he commanded achieved significant initial surprise, capturing ~10 km of Ukrainian territory in 48 hours.
Is Aleksandr Zhuravlyov still active in the Ukraine war?
Yes, Aleksandr Zhuravlyov is currently active as of the latest available data (period: 2022 – present).

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