Top Russian military officer put in charge of Ukraine action
Russia’s top military officer has been put in charge of troops fighting in Ukraine on Wednesday MOSCOW -- Russia’s top military officer was put in charge of troops fighting in Ukraine on Wednesday, a move that appears to reflect the Kremlin’s dissatisfaction with the current leadership and flaws in the military's performance. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, was named the new commander of the unified group of forces in Ukraine. The previous commander, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, was demoted to become Gerasimov’s deputy along with two other generals. The reshuffle, which was formally ordered by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, clearly came on Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval, signaling that he still has trust in his top military leaders who have faced broad criticism for the troops' performance in the conflict. It also suggests a recognition of flaws in carrying out what Putin called...