Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday fired his chief of land forces, Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov, who had served in that role since 2014 and as a deputy commander of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2023.
The Kremlin dismissed speculation that Salyukov’s departure was related to disappointing progress in Ukraine.
The 70-year-old native of Saratov will now serve as a deputy to his former boss, ex-Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, who is now Secretary of Russia’s Security Council. The Security Council has become a political retirement home for once high-profile leaders, such as former president Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as its Deputy Chairman. (Putin is the Chairman.)
Shoigu, 69, despite having no military background, had served as Defense Minister from 2012 until economic advisor Andrey Beluosov replaced him in May 2024. Shoigu may have been replaced due to corruption allegations and the Kremlin’s disappointment with the lack of progress in Ukraine.
Before his eleven-year stint as ground forces commander, Salyukov served for four years as deputy head of the general staff. From 1977 to 1982, he served in various roles within the Red Army in the Kyiv Military District. In the 80s and early 90s, he mostly served as the Commander of a tank training regiment in the Moscow region.
Less than a week ago, Salyukov was presiding over those tanks and was paraded around Red Square alongside Belusov during the grand Victory Day military celebrations, marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.
AFP reported that Russian law enforcement has charged more than a dozen military and defense sector officials since last year, many of whom were accused of siphoning money from major projects for personal gain.