On May 15, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree relieving Army General Oleg Salyukov of his post as Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and appointing him Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the official portal of legal acts. Salyukov, who held the post of commander-in-chief since May 2014, was also known as the leader of the Victory Parades on Red Square, including the jubilee parade on May 9, 2025, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev, who previously commanded the Central Military District, has been appointed the new Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces. The decree on his appointment was published on the evening of May 15. Mordvichev, born January 14, 1976 in Pavlodar, Kazakh SSR, has extensive combat experience. In 2022, he led a group of Russian troops during the battle for Mariupol, for which he received the title Hero of the Russian Federation in March 2024. Since February 2023, he has served as commander of the Central Military District, and in September 2023, he was awarded the rank of colonel general.

Oleg Salyukov, born on May 21, 1955 in Saratov, has dedicated more than 40 years to military service. A graduate of the Ulyanovsk Guards Higher Tank Command School (1977), the Military Academy of Armored Forces (1985) and the Military Academy of the General Staff (1996), he rose from platoon commander to commander-in-chief. From 2008 to 2010, Salyukov commanded the Far Eastern Military District, and from 2010 to 2014 he was deputy chief of the General Staff. In 2019, he was awarded the rank of Army General. Since January 2023, he has also served as deputy commander of the Joint Group of Forces in the Northeast Military District. Salyukov is under sanctions by the EU, the UK, Canada and other countries due to his participation in hostilities in Ukraine.

According to experts, the change of commander-in-chief is connected with Salyukov’s age: on May 21 he turns 70, which exceeds the maximum term of service for his rank.