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And publicly humiliates hapless deputy PM for 'fooling around' Sergei Surovikin was demoted yesterday after just three months in command He was replaced by his heavily criticised understudy Gen. Valery Gerasimov An enraged Putin also publicly humiliated one of his deputy prime ministers Denis Manturov was blasted for failing to procure military and civilian planes During his short time overseeing the troops in Ukraine, Surovikin was credited with strengthening coordination, reinforcing control and introducing a campaign to knock out the invaded country's public utilities as a pressure tactic. But he also announced a humiliating withdrawal in November from Kherson, the...

President Vladimir Putin has removed Russia's top commander in Ukraine, three months after he was installed. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov has been appointed to lead what Russia calls its "special military operation" against its neighbour. He replaces Sergei Surovikin who has overseen Moscow's brutal attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The reshuffle comes as Russian forces say they are making progress in eastern Ukraine after months of setbacks. Gen Gerasimov, who has been in post since 2012, is the longest-serving Russian chief of general staff of the post-Soviet era. Gen Surovikin - now his deputy - has been...

The acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushlin, said the republic's cities of Soledar and Artemovsk were about to be liberated MOSCOW, January 11./TASS/.The city of Soledar, the scene of intense fighting in the past few days, has been under the control by units of Russia's Wagner private military company, the company's Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was quoted as saying by his press service on Tuesday night. "Units of the Wagner private military company have taken the entire territory of Soledar under their control. The city center has been surrounded, and urban warfare is underway. The number of captives...

Sweden said on Sunday that Turkey is asking for too much in exchange for allowing it to join NATO, as Ankara effectively demands the impossible – that Stockholm override a decision by its own Supreme Court. But analysts say Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is unlikely to retract its condition, at least not before the all-important presidential elections scheduled in June. Sweden’s new conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that, as far as he is concerned, Stockholm has done enough for Ankara. “Turkey confirms that we have done what we said we would do. But they also say that they...

Russian forces have cut the main north-south highway, that was a supply link for Ukraine forces, north of Bakhmut [Ukraine]. Soledar to the north of that Russian break-through, is in danger of complete encirclement.

The UK is considering supplying Ukraine with British tanks for the first time to fight Russia's invading forces, Sky News understands. Discussions have been taking place "for a few weeks" about delivering a number of the British Army's Challenger 2 main battle tank to the Ukrainian armed forces, a Western source with knowledge of the conversations said.