Valery Gerasimov
Валерий Герасимов
🇷🇺 RussiaActive
Role
Chief of the General Staff / Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Rank
General of the Army
War Period
Jan 2023 – present (Ukraine operations)
General Valery Gerasimov has been Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces since 2012. He was appointed overall commander of Russian forces in Ukraine in January 2023, replacing Sergei Surovikin. Gerasimov is the originator of the "Gerasimov doctrine" — a theory of hybrid warfare combining military, informational, and political tools. His appointment was seen as a promotion following earlier setbacks.
Key Operations
- —Overall strategic direction of Russian invasion (2022–present)
- —Winter infrastructure bombing campaign 2022–2023
- —Bakhmut offensive coordination
Notable
Gerasimov was positioned as the target of the Wagner Group's June 2023 mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, which briefly seized Rostov-on-Don before being called off.
Other Russia Commanders
Vladimir Putin
ActiveSupreme Commander-in-Chief
Sergei Surovikin
DismissedFormer Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Yevgeny Prigozhin
KIAWagner Group Founder & Commander
Alexander Dvornikov
DismissedFormer Overall Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine
Mikhail Mizintsev
ActiveDirector of Russia's National Defense Management Center; commander of Mariupol siege
Mikhail Teplinsky
ActiveCommander of Russian Airborne Forces (VDV)
Rustam Muradov
DismissedFormer Commander of the Eastern Military District
Aleksandr Lapin
DismissedCommander of the Central Military District ("Group Center")
Andrei Mordvichev
ActiveCommander of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army; later Commander of "Group South"
Oleg Salyukov
ActiveCommander-in-Chief of Russian Ground Forces
Aleksandr Zhuravlyov
ActiveCommander, Western Military District; Commander, "Group North" (2024)
Sergei Shoigu
ReplacedFormer Minister of Defence of Russia; Secretary of the Security Council
Andrei Belousov
ActiveMinister of Defence of Russia
Yunus-bek Yevkurov
ActiveDeputy Minister of Defence of Russia
Oleg Tsokov
KIADeputy Commander of the Southern Military District
Gennady Anashkin
ActiveCommander of the "Group South" forces
Related Battles & Operations
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Valery Gerasimov?
General Valery Gerasimov has been Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces since 2012. He was appointed overall commander of Russian forces in Ukraine in January 2023, replacing Sergei Surovikin. Gerasimov is the originator of the "Gerasimov doctrine" — a theory of hybrid warfare combining military, informational, and political tools. His appointment was seen as a promotion following earlier setbacks.
What is Valery Gerasimov's role in the Ukraine war?
Valery Gerasimov (General of the Army) served as Chief of the General Staff / Commander of Russian forces in Ukraine on the Russia side. Service period: Jan 2023 – present (Ukraine operations). Current status: Active.
What key operations was Valery Gerasimov involved in?
Overall strategic direction of Russian invasion (2022–present). Winter infrastructure bombing campaign 2022–2023. Bakhmut offensive coordination.
What is notable about Valery Gerasimov in the context of the Ukraine war?
Gerasimov was positioned as the target of the Wagner Group's June 2023 mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, which briefly seized Rostov-on-Don before being called off.
Is Valery Gerasimov still active in the Ukraine war?
Yes, Valery Gerasimov is currently active as of the latest available data (period: Jan 2023 – present (Ukraine operations)).