Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed General Oleg Salyukov as deputy secretary of the National Security Council, according to a decree issued on Thursday. The decision comes alongside Salyukov’s removal from his previous position as commander-in-chief of the Russian Ground Forces.
Salyukov, a seasoned military leader, had commanded Russia’s Ground Forces—the largest branch of the country’s armed forces—since 2014. Over the years, he held key roles including deputy head of the General Staff and leader of the Russian Far Eastern military district. In 2023, he served as deputy commander in Russia’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine, reporting to Army General Valery Gerasimov.
His tenure saw him overseeing Russian troop inspections in Belarus after a joint military force was established there in 2022. Additionally, Salyukov played a central role in organizing the Victory Day military parades on Red Square for more than a decade.
While Putin has not publicly explained the reasoning behind Salyukov’s appointment to the Security Council or his removal from the Ground Forces, the general will now work under former Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who leads the council.
The Kremlin has yet to disclose who will replace Salyukov as commander-in-chief of the Russian Ground Forces.
