Salyukov, 70, had held the post since 2014 and only last week oversaw the Victory Day parade on Red Square alongside new Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. His removal is the latest shake-up in Russia’s military leadership during the war in Ukraine.
A Kremlin decree gave no reason for the change. Salyukov turns 71 next week, exceeding Russia’s usual service age, but analysts noted the dismissal comes amid an anti-corruption drive that has seen more than a dozen senior officers arrested since late 2024.
Shoigu’s new lieutenancy
Shoigu, a long-time Putin ally demoted last year to Security Council secretary, will now have his former army chief as a deputy.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that recent arrests and dismissals were “routine rotations”, rejecting talk of a purge.
From Syria to Ukraine
As land-forces chief, Salyukov directed Russian ground operations in Syria and later in Ukraine, where Moscow’s troops have struggled to achieve a decisive breakthrough. Russian forces claim incremental gains in the east; Kyiv says high turnover reflects battlefield failures.
Defense commentator Rob Lee highlighted Salyukov’s move as another sign the Kremlin wants new faces running day-to-day ground operations, and said that, according to sources, Central Military District commander Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev will replace Salyukov as the new commander of Russia's Ground Forces.
Pattern of changes
The reshuffle follows May arrests of two deputy defense ministers on bribery charges and the February sacking of the commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Putin replaced Defense Minister Shoigu with economist Belousov in a surprise cabinet shake-up last year.
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Source: The Moscow Times, Reuters