Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Andrei Ivanayev as commander of the Vostok group of forces involved in the special military operation zone. This personnel decision was made as part of a planned renewal of the command staff.

The Defense Ministry's press release states that under Ivanayev's leadership, the Vostok group liberated seven settlements in a month and took control of more than 300 square kilometers of territory. Such achievements underscore his professionalism and the experience he has gained over the years of service. 

Andrey Ivanayev previously served as commander of the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army of the Western Military District. He graduated from the Chelyabinsk Higher Tank Command School, the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Military Academy of the General Staff. In 2019, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant general.