Putin dismissed the commander of the ground forces of the Russian army and appointed General Mord Vychev in his place

According to an AFP report, Vladimir Putin dismissed Oleg Salikov, the commander of the Russian army’s ground forces, due to his old age (he will be 70 years old on May 21) and appointed him as Shoigu’s deputy in the Security Council.

The decision came ahead of Friday’s talks between representatives of Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul as part of efforts to end the war.

General Andrey Mordevychev is the commander of one of the most effective military groups of the Central Military District – the Central Guard of Russia, which liberated Avdiivka and dozens of nearby villages and towns.

In 2022, he commanded the 8th Combined Army of the Southern Military District, which liberated Mariupol.