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New Face of Putin’s War: General Sergei Surovikin
On October 8, the same day of the Kerch Bridge disaster, Russia’s Ministry of Defense named general Sergei Surovikin as its new overall commander for operations in Ukraine.
Western military officials and analysts have long been acquainted with the biography of Putin’s new military commander. Admittedly, there’s one common thing – none of them expected any positive changes from his appointment. Just two days later, on October 10, all major cities across Ukraine were hit with the largest Russian air bombardment since the early days of the invasion. When the shock of the first missile strikes passed, it became apparent to many that Putin’s strategy in the war against Ukraine had changed. It looked like a suitably grisly way of marking the promotion of Sergei Surovikin, Russia’s new overall commander of “special military operation“. Nicknamed the “Butcher of Syria” and “General Armageddon” by his subordinates, he has a fearsome reputation hardened over the last three decades. General Surovikin is believed to have directed the war for months, but his formal appointment in October marks a new cruel chapter. Who is he, this veteran officer with experience in bringing order even under the most extreme conditions of war? And what does his promotion reveal about the Russian invasion?