Denys 'Redis' Prokopenko, a 34-year-old defender of Mariupol and former commander of the Azov battalion, has recently been promoted to brigadier general by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, making headlines as the youngest general in the current military leadership. His promotion comes as part of a broader strategy to instill young yet battle-tested officers at the forefront of the war against Russia, contrasting sharply with the older average age of generals in NATO armies. Prokopenko's reputation in Ukraine remains that of a national hero, embodying courage and resilience in the face of aggression.

However, the Kremlin has seized on Prokopenko's popularity to paint him as a 'neo-Nazi' figure, further justifying their rhetoric surrounding 'denazification', a buzzword used to defend their invasion of Ukraine. This framing not only serves to vilify Ukrainian defenders in the eyes of Russian citizens but also divides opinions among Western commentators, some of whom recognize the complexities surrounding Prokopenko's image. As Ukraine navigates through this ongoing conflict, the challenges posed by these narratives highlight the broader geopolitical stakes involved.

Overall, Prokopenko's rise to general underscores a generational shift in military leadership during a critical phase of the war, as Ukraine seeks to harness the vigour and adaptability of its younger officers. The implications of this development extend beyond military strategy, as it also reflects the symbolic war of information and identity that accompanies the physical battleground in Ukraine.