Putin Gets Rid Of Another Top Commander In Ukraine
Putin gets rid of another top commander in Ukraine, and the head of the armed forces is given a "poisoned chalice." On Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense responded to mounting criticism of its leadership of the stalled military operation in Ukraine by announcing yet another reorganization of the commanders leading the conflict there.
Author:Suleman ShahReviewer:Han JuJan 12, 202326.8K Shares358.2K Views
Putin gets rid of another top commander in Ukraine, and the head of the armed forces is given a "poisoned chalice." On Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense responded to mounting criticism of its leadership of the stalled military operation in Ukraine by announcing yet another reorganization of the commanders leading the conflict there.
The Announcement
The ministry announced that General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, would become the overall commander of the campaign. The ministry also stated that the current commander, Sergey Surovikin, would become one of General Valery Gerasimov's three deputies.
Retired US general calls Putin's battlefield change a 'bizarre move'
It wasn't until October that Surovikin was given the role of overall commander of what the Kremlin refers to in euphemistic termsas the "Special Military Operation."
The announcement does not cause much of a shakeup in the hierarchical structure of the bureaucracy. Surovikin has already informed Gerasimov of his whereabouts.
Russian television commentator Sergey Markov said Wednesday on Telegram:
“„Generals are moved, shuffled from the Front to the Headquarters. From Headquarters to the Front. Surovikin is not punished and Gerasimov is not punished. It’s all one team. Well, of course with competition, which always happens among the top dogs.- Sergey Markov
But the decision puts Gerasimov, who has been chief of the General Staff for more than a decade, closer to direct supervision of the campaign – and to responsibility for it. While Gerasimov was a key figure in planning the invasion, he appears to have been at arm’s length since, with just one reported visit to the command of the campaign inside Ukraine, though the Defense Ministry did not confirm that either.
Mark Galeotti, senior associate fellow with the Royal United Services Institute, said:
“„It is a kind of demotion [for Gerasimov] or at least the most poisoned of chalices. It’s now on him, and I suspect Putin has unrealistic expectations again.- Mark Galeotti
Gerasimov has gone weeks without making public appearances and was not seen at the Victory Day parade in Moscow last year, leading to speculation about his position at the time.
He now has direct command of the Ukraine campaign as well as the role of chief interlocutor with the US on issues such as military "de-confliction."
He last spoke with General Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in November, after a Ukrainian air defense missile landed in Poland.
It is unclear why the Russian Defense Ministry has made this decision at this time. It stated that there was a "need to organize closer interaction between the branches and arms of the Armed Forces" and that "command and control of troop groupings" needed to be improved.
Surovikin, army commander Oleg Salyukov, and Deputy Chief of General Staff Colonel-General Aleksey Kim will serve as Gerasimov's deputies.
According to the new structure, Gerasimov's seniority will improve coordination in a campaign where different branches of the armed forces have frequently appeared to be out of sync.
Some analysts believe the move is also an attempt by the ministry to tighten its grip on the campaign ahead of a critical few months in which the remainder of the reserve force mobilized in the autumn of 2022 will be deployed following training.
The Ukrainian military has said it expects a fresh Russian offensive in the early spring. The overall military commander in Ukraine, General Valery Zaluzhny, told the reports in December:
“„They [Russian forces] are 100% being prepared.- Valery Zaluzhny
A major Russian attack could occur "in February, at best in March, and at worst at the end of January," according to him.
According to Rob Lee of King's College London, Wednesday's announcement "reasserts the MoD's position overseeing the war... This could also be a reaction to Wagner's growing influence and public role in the war."
Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner's boss, has been both vocal and visible on the front lines, with his contract fighters prominently involved in the assault on Soledar in the eastern Donetsk region. He has stated numerous times that Wagner mercenaries fighters are solely responsible for advances in the Soledar area.
Prigozhin and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu have a long historyof feuding. Prigozhin, on the other hand, has praised General Surovikin for orchestrating an orderly withdrawal of Russian forces from the southern Kherson region as their position became increasingly untenable.
“„Generals have to win victory after victory every day. To whom can Surovikin be compared? Surovikin is honest and principled, he is trusted by the army.- Prigozhin
Final Words
Some commentators wonder if the ministry is "circling the wagons" as criticism of its handling of the campaign continues. Colonel-General Aleksandr Lapin, who was fired as commander of the Central Military District in October, was named Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces on Wednesday.
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Suleman Shah
Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences.
Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA).
Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju
Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality.
Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence.
Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
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