New head of Russian land forces distinguished himself in Ukraine
A colonel general dubbed "General Breakthrough" for distinguishing himself in key battles in Moscow's more than three-year-old war in Ukraine has been appointed head of Russia's land forces, the daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta said on Friday.
The government daily said Andrei Mordvichev was born in 1976 in what was then Soviet Kazakhstan and last year was decorated as a Hero of Russia, the country's highest award.
Mordvichev, previously head of the Central Military District, commanded operations that led to the 2022 surrender of Ukrainian units holding out in the Azovstal steelworks after a siege of about 80 days in the southern port of Mariupol.
In 2024, he led Russian troops capturing the mining centre of Avdiivka in Donetsk region on the war's eastern front, a key operation in a town where Ukrainian authorities had for years built up fortifications.
Rossiiskaya Gazeta said he also led Russian forces in retaking three key towns in their slow advance westward through Donetsk region - Selydove, Kurakhove and Ukrainsk.
Earlier in his career, he had also taken part in conflicts in Syria.
Mordvichev takes over from army general Oleg Salyukov, replaced as head of ground forces on Thursday by a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.
Salyukov, 69, was appointed deputy secretary of the Security Council, the Kremlin's top consultative body, chaired by Putin, and which is responsible for managing and integrating national security policy. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Jailed French researcher faces Russian espionage charge, court says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox French researcher Laurent Vinatier, who is suspected of illegally collecting sensitive Russian military information, sits inside an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing in Moscow, Russia October 14, 2024. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina French researcher Laurent Vinatier, already jailed in Russia on charges of violating the country's "foreign agent" laws, now faces a new espionage charge, according to court documents cited by Russian news agencies. Vinatier was jailed for three years last October for failing to comply with laws requiring individuals deemed "foreign agents" to register and meet a number of stipulations. His appeal against the sentence was thrown out in February. The FSB security service had accused Vinatier of failing to register as a foreign agent in Russia while collecting military information of value to foreign intelligence services. Russian news agencies quoted documents from Moscow's Lefortovo Court as saying he would now be charged under espionage laws, without providing further details. A hearing was set for next Monday. Vinatier, 49, is one of several Westerners to have been charged under Russian security laws at a time of tense confrontation between Moscow and the West over the war in Ukraine. He told the court at his trial that he loved Russia and apologised for breaking the law. France said Vinatier had been arbitrarily detained and called for his release. President Emmanuel Macron denied that Vinatier worked for the French state and has described his arrest as part of a misinformation campaign by Moscow. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Israel says it has taken first steps of military operation in Gaza City Singapore 3 Sengkang Green Primary pupils suspended for bullying classmate, with 1 of them caned: MOE Singapore 18 persons nabbed and 82 vapes seized in HSA ops in Raffles Place and Haji Lane Business Chinese brands like Pop Mart, BYD, Joocyee expanding into S'pore as gateway to Asean market Life Why should we bear the burden of budget meals and app discounts, some hawkers ask Singapore Religion growing in importance for Singaporeans: IPS study Asia 'Disastrous, useless': New Zealand to overhaul high school qualification to lift falling standards Opinion Malaysia: The cost of public doubt over high-profile criminal cases Vinatier is an employee of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Swiss-based conflict mediation organisation. Fellow academics who know him told Reuters he was a respected scholar involved in legitimate research. REUTERS
Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Ukraine starts work on military component of security guarantees under peace deal with Russia
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak at a meeting in July. KYIV - The chief of staff of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug 20 that work was under way on establishing the military component of security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a settlement of the war with Russia. 'Our teams, above all the military, have already begun active work on the military component of security guarantees,' Mr Andriy Yermak wrote in English on the X social platform after a meeting of national security advisers from Western countries and Nato. Mr Yermak said Ukraine was also working on a plan with its allies on how to proceed 'in case the Russian side continues to prolong the war and disrupt agreements on bilateral and trilateral formats of leaders' meetings'. A Western official had earlier told Reuters that a small group of military leaders was continuing discussions in Washington to work out options for security guarantees for Ukraine after the conclusion of a bigger virtual meeting. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
North Korea leader Kim praises ‘heroic' troops in Russia, state media says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a meeting with Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin (not pictured) in Pyongyang on Aug 14. SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the 'heroic' North Korean troops who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine , in a meeting with officers of the army's overseas operation, state media said on Aug 21. He 'highly appreciated their feats of leading the combat units of our armed forces, which participated in the operations to liberate the Kursk Region of the Russian Federation, to victory,' the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. North Korea has dispatched more than 10,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine and is believed to be planning another deployment, according to a South Korean intelligence assessment. Mr Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership treaty in June last year, which includes a mutual defence pact. Ahead of Mr Putin's Aug 15 meeting with US President Donald Trump , Mr Kim spoke to the Russian leader by telephone and reaffirmed full support for Moscow. Earlier, Mr Kim paid tribute to North Korean soldiers killed during the war with Ukraine, covering their coffins with flags and resting both of his hands on them in a rare public display. 'Ours is a heroic army ... Our army has fully demonstrated its unique qualities. Such a result has cemented its appellation and reputation as the most powerful army in the world,' he said, according to KCNA. REUTERS
