MOSCOW

Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov has been named commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

“Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov has been appointed commander of the integrated group of troops (forces),” a ministry statement said.

The statement said Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu made new appoints in the military command of the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Gerasimov's deputies included Gen. Sergey Surovikin, commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces; Gen. Oleg Salyukov, commander-in-chief of the Ground Forces; and Col. Gen. Alexei Kim, deputy chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, it added.

The ministry said that the new appointments are related to the broader scope of tasks and the need for closer coordination between all military branches and services.

According to Russia's Tass news agency, in October, Surovikin was appointed commander of Russian forces in the “special military operation” in Ukraine.