President Putin has dismissed General Oleg Salyukov, Russia’s land forces chief since 2014, amid ongoing difficulties in the Ukraine conflict. Salyukov will be reassigned as deputy to former defence minister Sergei Shoigu. The move follows recent high-profile military shake-ups, though Kremlin denies it’s a purge. Russia faces a prolonged war in Ukraine, far from its initial quick victory plans. Ukraine and Russia are set for peace talks in Istanbul this week.
