Russia: General Valeri Guerassimov takes the lead of the operation in Ukraine
General Valeri Guerassimov, on the left, with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, at the Kremlin, in Moscow, in December 2022. AP - Alexey Maishev
Text by: Anissa El Jabri Follow
1 min
Russia again replaced this Wednesday, January 11 the commander of its “special operation” in Ukraine, by appointing General Valeri Guerassimov, who until now was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
An announcement from the Department of Defense.
Sergueï Sourovikine becomes assistant and thus gives way to the chief of staff of the armies.
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From our correspondent in Moscow,
Never had an operation commander taken so much light in Russia.
Sergueï Surovikin will however only have exercised his functions for three months.
His appointment was hailed by the Kadyrov-Prigojine alliance, against army generals, whose performance was judged by the two leaders, but also military bloggers, in very harsh words.
Named the day of the strike against the Kerch bridge, on October 8, Sergei Surovikin is the one who assumed the withdrawal from Kherson, led the campaign of intense strikes against the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, launched the construction of fortifications and trenches in the territories conquered by Russia.
It is difficult to know if his replacement announces a new phase in the conflict, such as a Russian offensive thanks to the recent freezing of the soil.
In any case, it marks the arrival of someone very close to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was said to be in the hot seat.
It also falls on the day
Wagner claims control of Soledar
, the first Russian advance in months, barely commented on by the Ministry of Defense.
And in Mr. Guerasimov's announcement of his appointment, one can read among his tasks “
greater coordination between the types of forces on the ground
”.
This can also sound like a desire to regain control.
►To re-read:
Valeri Guerasimov, the Russian Chief of Staff in the face of Ukrainian resistance (March 2022)
Sergei Surovikin, the "iron man" of the Russian army on the Ukrainian front
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