Valery Gerasimov

Valery Gerasimov is the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. He is newsworthy due to his role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Recently, Gerasimov was cited by the Kremlin in a Telegram post announcing that Russian forces had captured Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in eastern Ukraine, after nearly two years of siege. He also stated that Russian forces captured Vovchansk in Kharkiv. These announcements come amidst reports of Russia targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, potentially to force territorial concessions, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's visits to frontline cities like Kupiansk. Gerasimov's position as Chief of Staff makes him a key figure in directing and overseeing Russia's military operations in Ukraine, and his statements carry significant weight regarding the progress and objectives of the war.