Latest news with #RussianGroundForces
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Ground Forces commander-in-chief appointed in Russia
Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev, who was awarded the title of Hero of Russia for the occupation of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces. Source: Russian Ministry of Defence on Telegram Details: Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said that Mordvichev is an "experienced combat officer" who "fully revealed his talent as a military commander during a special military operation [as the Russians call the war against Ukraine – ed.]". Notably, in March 2022, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Mordvichev had been killed. For reference: According to the Russian agency Interfax, prior to this appointment, Mordvichev commanded the Centre Group of Forces. It was officially reported that in February 2024, under his command, this group occupied Avdiivka. Mordvichev was reportedly born on 14 January 1976 in Pavlodar (Kazakhstan). In 1997, he graduated from the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School, and in 2006, from the General Military Academy of the Russian Armed Forces. After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in 2016, he was appointed deputy corps commander. From 2017 to 2019, Mordvichev was chief of staff and first deputy commander of the Central Military District. From 2019 to 2021, he was chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, commander of the 8th Army from 2021 to 2022, and deputy commander of the entire Southern Military District from 2022 to 2023. In 2023, Mordvichev was appointed commander of the Central Military District. Background: On 15 May, it became known that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had dismissed General Oleg Salyukov from his post as commander-in-chief of the Russian Ground Forces and appointed him deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council. Salyukov had commanded the Russian Ground Forces since May 2014. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin appoints general who led Mariupol assault as new Russian Ground Forces Commander
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev, who led the assault on Mariupol in 2022, as the Commander of the Russian Ground Forces, Russian state-controlled media reported on May 15. The appointment comes amid media reports claiming that Russia is preparing a major new offensive in Ukraine despite ongoing peace efforts led by the U.S. Mordvichev was a commander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army of Russia's Southern Military District, which was heavily involved in the devastating 2022 siege of Mariupol which killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, according to Kyiv. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in September 2022 said that while stationed in Mariupol, Mordvichev reportedly met with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to approve plans for the final assault on the city, including the encirclement and storming of Azovstal, where Ukrainian troops and civilians were sheltering. Under Mordvichev's command, Russian troops carried out the destruction of civilian infrastructure and committed atrocities against both civilians and the Ukrainian military, the SBU said. It also found that Mordvichev has been directly involved in other areas of Russia's full-scale invasion, including the coordination of Russian forces in the Donetsk Oblast. It was also reported that Putin personally praised him and awarded him the title of Hero of Russia for the capture of Avdiivka on March 28, 2024. Mordvichev has been notified of suspicion under part 3 of Art. 110 (encroachment on Ukraine's territorial integrity and inviolability resulting in deaths and other grave consequences), part 2 of Art. 437 (waging an aggressive war), part 2 of Art. 28 (committing a crime by a group of individuals in prior conspiracy) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Mordvichev will replace General Oleg Saliukov, who was appointed as deputy secretary of the Security Council on May 15. Saliukov, who turns 70 on May 21, had led Russia's Ground Forces and the Moscow Garrison since 2014, according to Radio Liberty. Known for overseeing annual Victory Day parades on Red Square from 2014 through 2025, he is currently under Western sanctions for his role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His retirement from active military service had been expected this month under Russian law, which mandates retirement at age 70 unless a special exemption is granted. Sergei Shoigu, Russia's former defense minister, has headed the Security Council since May 2024 and now has several deputies, including Saliukov. Read also: Ukraine 'lost contact' with F-16 during combat, pilot ejected, Air Force says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin appoints Russian Ground Forces Commander Saliukov to Security Council role
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed General Oleg Saliukov, the commander of the Russian Ground Forces, as deputy secretary of the Security Council, Russian state-controlled media reported on May 15. It remains unclear who will replace Saliukov as commander of the Ground Forces. The appointment comes amid media reports claiming that Russia is preparing a major offensive in Ukraine despite the ongoing peace efforts led by the United States. Saliukov, who turns 70 on May 21, had led Russia's Ground Forces and the Moscow Garrison since 2014, according to Radio Liberty. Known for overseeing annual Victory Day parades on Red Square from 2014 through 2025, he is currently under Western sanctions for his role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His retirement from active military service had been expected this month under Russian law, which mandates retirement at age 70 unless a special exemption is granted. Sergei Shoigu, Russia's former defense minister, has headed the Security Council since May 2024 and now has several deputies, including Saliukov. Read also: Trump expects no progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks until he meets Putin We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Putin sacks commander-in-chief of Russian Ground Forces
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has dismissed General Oleg Salyukov as commander-in-chief of the Russian Ground Forces. Source: RIA Kremlin Pool, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency; Vazhnye Istorii (Important Stories), a Russian media outlet Quote from the RIA Kremlin Pool: "Army General Oleg Salyukov, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, has been dismissed from his post and appointed as deputy to [Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei] Shoigu in Russia's Security Council." Details: The name of Salyukov's successor has not yet been announced. Salyukov had held the position since 2014. He rarely appeared in public, and media outlets usually mentioned him only in connection with military celebrations. BBC News Russian revealed in 2023 that Salyukov's family profits from such events. His daughter-in-law, Dina Salyukova, owns HQ Agency, a creative firm that organises military and patriotic celebrations. Its main clients include Russia's Defence Ministry and the Moscow mayor's office. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Putin replaces commander of Russia's ground forces and appoints him to security council
FILE PHOTO: Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces Oleg Salyukov arrives for an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow, Russia December 16, 2024. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Putin replaces commander of Russia's ground forces and appoints him to security council MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced the commander of Russia's ground forces, Army General Oleg Salyukov, 69, appointing him deputy secretary of the Security Council, according to a decree published on the Kremlin's website on Thursday. The Security Council is the Kremlin's top consultative body, chaired by Putin, and which is responsible for managing and integrating national security policy. It does not have direct authority over Russia's security agencies and ministries. The secretary of the Security Council is former defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Salyukov has for the past 11 years led the large Victory Day parades in Moscow's Red Square that mark the anniversary of Germany's surrender at the end of World War Two. From January 2023, Salyukov was deputy to Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of the General Staff, who was appointed by Putin as a commander in charge to lead Russia's war in Ukraine. Salyukov has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and several other countries. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
