Latest news with #Gerasimov
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russian military chief Gerasimov inspects forces fighting in eastern Ukraine
Find out what's new on ST website and app. MOSCOW - The chief of Russia's general staff, Valery Gerasimov, has inspected the "Centre" group of Russian forces which is fighting in the Pokrovsk area of the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Russia's defence ministry said on Monday. Pokrovsk, which Russia refers to by its Soviet-era name of Krasnoarmeisk, is one of the focal points of Russian military action in the drive to secure control over all of the Donetsk region. The defence ministry said the commanders of Russian unites updated Gerasimov on battlefield developments. It posted a video on its Telegram channel, showing Gerasimov boarding, flying and disembarking a military helicopter, and then meeting the officers in military fatigues. Russia controls nearly 19% of what is internationally recognised to be Ukraine, including Crimea and the Luhansk region, more than 70% of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and fragments of the Kharkiv and Sumy regions. REUTERS
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UK-Russia military hotline breakdown since Ukraine war weighs heavy on top British Admiral
UK-Russia military hotline breakdown raises strategic alarm UK Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin told the House of Commons Defence Committee he regrets the breakdown of direct military communications with Russia, specifically referencing the loss of a previously active hotline with Russian Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov. 'I used to have calls with General Gerasimov,' Radakin said during the June 10 session. He noted that he and then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had spoken with Gerasimov around February 11, 2022, just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine. The communication occurred through a dedicated military hotline between the UK Ministry of Defence and the Russian General Staff's Situation Centre. According to defense officials, the hotline had been tested daily for functionality and reserved for urgent crisis communication. Despite escalating tensions with Russia, the UK has maintained strong ties with Ukraine, with UK Defence Chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin meeting his Ukrainian and French counterparts in Kyiv in April, 2025 to discuss the structure and size of an international "reassurance force" to support any future peace deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Also read: NATO chief calls for 'quantum leap' in defence and says Russia could attack in 5 years That channel was effectively discontinued after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. No further call logs or tests have been reported since, suggesting that the mil-to-mil link between the UK and Russia was severed. Live Events 'In a dangerous world, not having those mil-to-mil communications - that's a regret,' Radakin said. Hotline served as strategic de-escalation tool before breakdown The UK-Russia hotline was not just symbolic. It served as a crucial crisis-management tool during escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers. The daily-tested line ensured that high-level commanders could resolve potential misunderstandings quickly. In addition to the February 2022 contact, the channel was reportedly used again in October 2022, when Radakin and Gerasimov spoke following Russia's public allegations that Ukraine was preparing to use a 'dirty bomb.' That exchange was part of broader efforts to clarify intent and prevent dangerous misinterpretations. Officials on both sides acknowledged the importance of such conversations in avoiding miscalculation. Also read: From 10,000 to 1,00,000 drones: UK increases drone deliveries to Ukraine days after Operation Spider's Web Despite this interaction, no sustained military dialogue resumed after 2022. With the hotline's eventual collapse, the UK lost the capacity to initiate direct communication with Russia's military command during periods of heightened risk. Loss of UK-Russia military communication raises escalation risks Admiral Radakin's concern reflects broader NATO anxieties about losing critical 'deconfliction' tools amid ongoing global instability. With no direct UK–Russia military channel in place, misunderstandings during operations near Eastern Europe, the Black Sea, or NATO airspace could escalate quickly. 'Not having those mil-to-mil communications' has become more consequential as both sides engage in active and indirect conflicts worldwide. Although some diplomatic channels remain open, military-to-military discussions, especially for crisis prevention, are not currently functional. Also read: Six Chilling Ways Putin's Russia Could Destroy the UK Within Hours: British Government Warns As global tensions rise and armed conflict continues in Ukraine, the breakdown of this once-active military hotline underscores the growing strategic risk. For now, Radakin and other UK officials must rely on NATO or multilateral frameworks for any engagement with Russia's armed forces.
South China Morning Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China's alignment with Russia, North Korea creates a dangerous triangle
This year's Victory Day celebrations made clear Russia's political intent. The Kremlin used the event not as a commemoration but as a stage to frame its war in Ukraine as a symbolic victory. By drawing in foreign attendance, it sought to further boost its legitimacy. Two developments in particular underscored this effort. First, among the most noteworthy developments was President Xi Jinping's early decision to attend . While some might speculate that his prompt acceptance of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation reflects a desire to stabilise ties with Russia amid shifting global dynamics, the move has also raised questions about China's strategic posture. Rather than actively shaping the post-war order, Beijing risks appearing reactive to Moscow's agenda. That unrealised potential underscores the stakes of China's current foreign policy choices. This diplomatic ambiguity leaves room for other actors, such as US President Donald Trump, to reinsert themselves into the conversation. A second noteworthy development is the official confirmation by both Russia and North Korea of the latter's troop deployment to Russia. Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of the General Staff, reported to Putin on April 26 that the operation to push Ukrainian forces out of Kursk had concluded and, for the first time, disclosed North Korean participation in Russia's war. These revelations, timed to coincide with Victory Day events, now take on new significance. Gerasimov justified the deployment by citing the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership , claiming that North Korean forces had played a significant role in defeating Ukrainian troops. North Korea later confirmed the deployment by referencing the Russian remarks. That this revelation came six months after the initial deployment by North Korea suggests a deliberate connection to the Victory Day celebrations. It is evident that North Korean troops engaged in fierce battles during the Kursk operation and suffered heavy casualties , raising speculation that they could be formally recognised or decorated during Victory Day events. Meanwhile, South Korean intelligence agencies have confirmed that North Korean casualties reached 4,700, including 600 deaths.
Reuters
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Putin replaces commander of Russia's ground forces and appoints him to security council
MOSCOW, May 15 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced the commander of Russia's ground forces, Army General Oleg Salyukov, 69, appointing him deputy secretary of the Security Council, according to a decree published on the Kremlin's website on Thursday. The Security Council is the Kremlin's top consultative body, chaired by Putin, and which is responsible for managing and integrating national security policy. It does not have direct authority over Russia's security agencies and ministries. The secretary of the Security Council is former defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Salyukov has for the past 11 years led the large Victory Day parades in Moscow's Red Square that mark the anniversary of Germany's surrender at the end of World War Two. From January 2023, Salyukov was deputy to Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of the General Staff, who was appointed by Putin as a commander in charge to lead Russia's war in Ukraine. Salyukov has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada and several other countries.
Russia Today
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Putin appoints top general to Security Council
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed General Oleg Salyukov as deputy secretary of the National Security Council, according to a decree issued on Thursday. Concurrently, Salyukov has been relieved of his role as the commander-in-chief of the Russian Ground Forces. Salyukov had commanded the Russian Ground Forces – the largest branch of the country's military by personnel – since 2014. Prior to that, he served as deputy head of the General Staff and led the Russian Far Eastern military district. In 2023, he became deputy commander of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, under Army General Valery Gerasimov, the head of the General Staff. Salyukov also inspected Russian troops stationed in Belarus after a joint military force was established there in October 2022. Additionally, he oversaw the Victory Day military parades on Red Square for 11 consecutive years. Putin has not publicly explained his decision to appoint Salyukov to the Security Council or to relieve him of his previous duties. In his new role, Salyukov will serve under former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who currently heads the council. The Kremlin has yet to announce who will take over as the new commander-in-chief of the Russian Ground Forces.
