‘Savage’ Soviet-Afghan War Veteran Appointed Sole Commander of Russian Forces in Ukraine

Russia is appointing a commanding general of its invading forces in Ukraine.

Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashekov announced that Army Gen. Sergey Surovikin had been appointed as the joint commander of forces for the “special military operation” in Ukraine on Saturday, according to Russian state media outlet TASS.

Surovikin previously played a key role in Russia’s military intervention in Syria.

General Sergei Surovikin has been appointed commander of the joint grouping of #Russian troops in #Ukraine. Surovikin led the grouping of Russian troops in #Syria in 2017 and 2019, and is also the commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces. pic.twitter.com/TBLBoReGIa

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 8, 2022

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The career Russian military officer began his career in the Soviet-Afghan War of the 1980s, according to Sky News.

Surovikin served as a Spetsnaz (special forces) officer in the Soviet Army at the time.

One Russia scholar is pointing to Surovikin’s appointment as a dark sign in a war of aggression that’s already resulted in significant loss of life.

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He’s describing the former Russian commanding general in Syria as a “savage” willing to use chemical weapons.

“The fact Surovikin is a savage and someone who’s notorious for shooting protesters and using chemical weapons in Syria sends out a clear signal, while increasing the intimidation factor,” Professor Luke March of the University of Edinburgh told Sky News.

“They want to show they’re not afraid to use whatever they have available, and here the message is that this guy has no limits.”

Surovikin previously commanded Russian forces in southern Ukraine, according to NBC News.

The Russian government had been previously hesitant to identify an overall battlefield commander of the disastrous “special military operation,” with U.S. intelligence unable to ascertain who was in charge, according to The Hill.

Combat setbacks, such as the loss of the entirety of Kharkiv Oblast and Ukrainian territorial gains near Kherson, may…

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