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3d ago

Putin Removes Russia’s Longtime Land Forces Chief as Peace Talks Begin

General Oleg Salyukov, head of Russia's land forces since 2014, has been reassigned by President Putin as direct peace negotiations with Ukraine commence in Istanbul.

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
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Overview

  • President Vladimir Putin dismissed General Oleg Salyukov as chief of the land forces on May 15, reassigning him as deputy to former defense minister Sergei Shoigu.
  • The Kremlin announced the decision in an official decree, denying allegations of a military purge following setbacks in Ukraine.
  • General Salyukov had led the land forces for over a decade, overseeing operations in Syria and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
  • The leadership change coincides with the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years, taking place in Istanbul on May 15 and 16.
  • Since 2024, Russian authorities have charged numerous military officials with corruption, reflecting heightened scrutiny of the defense sector during the prolonged war.