RIAU24.COM - Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov was appointed as the new commander of the Russian troops in "special military operations" in Ukraine. His position was confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

Gerasimov's election was part of a large-scale replacement that Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu made in resuming operations in Ukraine already entering its eleventh month.

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In addition to Gerasimov, there were several deputies appointed to serve in Ukraine, including General Sergey Surovikin, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force; General Oleg Salyukov, Commander-in-Chief of the Army; and Colonel General Alexei Kim, deputy chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces.

Their appointment came amid reports of a change in Russia's military hierarchy, which also involved Colonel General Alexander Lapin as head of the country's ground forces.