Putin reshuffles military leadership as priorities shift
Vladimir Putin has removed General Oleg Salukov from his position as Commander of the Russian Ground Forces. The General, who recently oversaw the parade on Red Square, has been reassigned to the Security Council. Until now, he played a significant role in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
What do you need to know?
- General Oleg Salukov has been removed from the position of Commander of the Russian Ground Forces by Vladimir Putin.
- New Role: Salukov has been appointed Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, where he will work alongside former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.
- Context: General Salukov was one of the deputies leading Russia's invasion of Ukraine and was subject to Western sanctions.
Vladimir Putin decided to remove General Oleg Salukov from his position as Commander of the Russian Ground Forces. General Salukov, who had held this position since 2014, was one of the key commanders in the Russian armed forces. His dismissal came shortly after he oversaw the military parade on Red Square on May 9th.
According to observers, this change may be related to the Kremlin's shifting priorities in the context of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
New duties for Salukov? He will collaborate with Shoigu
After his removal from his previous role, General Salukov was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council. In this capacity, he will work with Sergey Shoigu, the former Defense Minister. The Security Council is a crucial body within Russia's power structure, suggesting that Salukov may continue to play a significant role in the country's defence policy.
General sanctioned
These changes in the Ground Forces command may influence the strategy and operations of the Russian military. Salukov was one of the deputies leading the Russian invasion of Ukraine under General Valery Gerasimov and was involved in important military decisions.
Due to Russian aggression, he was subject to Western sanctions.
In 2023, the Russian branch of the BBC published material on how his family profited from organizing various "patriotic" events.
