Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Sunday fired a high-ranking military commander who helped lead the fight against Russian forces in the east of the country, but did not give a reason for his decision, Reuters reported.

President Zelenskyy announced in a short decree the dismissal of Eduard Moskalyov from the post of commander of the United Forces of Ukraine, which are participating in hostilities in Donbas.

The President of Ukraine mentioned Moskalyov in his daily speech on Friday, when he listed the military commanders with whom he communicated. Moskalyov has been in office since March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Russian troops are making a concerted effort to conquer the two eastern regions of Donbas, and Volodymyr Zelenskyi called the military situation in the east of the country difficult and painful in recent weeks.

Pro-Moscow combat units have been focusing their efforts on the town of Bakhmut, launching repeated attacks despite heavy casualties among Ukrainian and Western officials.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook that Russian troops carried out several unsuccessful attacks in the Bakhmut region on Sunday.