Russia has appointed Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, as its overall commander for the war in Ukraine, replacing Sergei Surovikin in the latest major military leadership shake-up. The defence ministry said on Wednesday that the change was intended to improve the effectiveness of Russian forces in what Moscow calls its “special military operation”.
Sergei Surovikin, nicknamed “General Armageddon” by Russian media, who was appointed in October, will remain as one of Gerasimov’s deputies. Gerasimov, along with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, has faced sharp criticism from pro-war military bloggers over battlefield setbacks and the failure to achieve a quick victory.
The reshuffle comes amid tensions between senior figures. On Tuesday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, boasted that his combat experience was superior to defence ministry officials and claimed his forces had captured the town of Soledar. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mocked the claims, stating that fighting was ongoing and Ukraine was strengthening its defences.
Meanwhile, Poland announced plans to transfer 10 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, as part of an international coalition. The move requires Germany’s approval, which Kyiv has been pressing for. A German government spokesperson said no request had been received yet.
The situation around Soledar remains fluid, with neither claim independently verified. Ukrainian soldiers reported heavy clashes, and the deputy defence minister said the enemy was suffering heavy losses but continued to storm Ukrainian positions.
