Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting with the top leadership of the Defense Ministry–Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov and Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valeri Gerasimov–as well as the commanders and chiefs of staff of the Center and East groups of forces. He noted that a decision had recently been taken “to consolidate all arms-related matters—including the functions of both procurement and supply agencies—under a single post.” That work was now being led by Deputy Minister Gen.-Col. Alexander Sanchik, “who until recently served with distinction as commander of one of our groups of forces.” (A “General-Colonel” is a three-star general, equivalent to an American Lt. General.)
Putin also announced that he had put all logistics within the ministry under a single post, to be led by former commander of the Central Military District Gen.-Col. Valery Solodchuk. He also announced new commanders for the Center and East groups of forces.
Additional appointments noted by the Defense Ministry include the following:
Deputy Defense Minister Aleksey Krivoruchko, responsible for military and technical support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, will be in charge of the development of promising weapons, military, and support hardware.
Gen.-Col. Andrey Ivanayev, who previously commanded troops of the Eastern Military District, has been appointed the new commander of the Central MD. The Russian military districts map onto the “groups of forces” in the Special Military Operation.
Gen.-Col. Pyotr Bolgarev has been appointed the acting commander of the Eastern Military District. He used to be the Chief of Staff of the Eastern Military District.
Gen.-Col. Denis Lyamin, who held the post of Chief of Staff of the Central Military District, has been elevated to the post of Chief of Unmanned Systems Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the new unit responsible for drones.
Speaking on The Great Game show on Channel One Russia last night, military expert Andrey Klintsevich of the Center for the Study of Military and Political Conflict underscored the importance of bringing “real generals, who just came out of the trenches,” into the central Ministry of Defense apparatus. All of these officers, he said, were personally selected by Putin and Belousov for their good results on the battlefield. The consolidation and centralization of logistics, as well as the new drone force, will be of particular importance, in his view.
