Russia Appoints Gerasimov as Overall Commander for Ukraine War, Signifying Major Military Leadership Reshuffle

In January 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced a significant military leadership change: General Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, was appointed as the overall commander of the "special military operation" in Ukraine, replacing General Sergey Surovikin. This reshuffle was widely interpreted as the Kremlin's response to poor battlefield performance and an intervention in the intense infighting within the military establishment over power distribution and strategic direction.

Gerasimov’s direct involvement suggested President Putin was seeking more centralized command and control on the battlefield. For conservative observers, the frequent changes at the top exposed the inefficiency and internal divisions of the Russian authoritarian system in a protracted, complex war, demonstrating the difficulty a military regime lacking transparency and accountability faces in adapting to modern conflict.