Putin urges desperate Putin to promote a ruthless general to lead the failing Ukraine invasion, as Russia’s army faces collapse

VLADIMIR Putin promoted a new, ruthless general to handle his disastrous and failed invasion.

General Sergey Surovikin, the tyrant, has taken total command of Russian forces in Ukraine. They are desperate to regroup.

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Putin has given General Sergey Surovikin the responsibility for the invasionCredit: AP

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Just hours after Vlad’s Bridge to Crime was attacked, the promotion takes placeCredit: AFP

Putin’s defence ministry confirmed this new appointment shortly after Vlad’s prized bridge between Russia and Crimea was torched.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by Ukrainian special forces, possibly using a large truck bomb.

The massive explosion at the bridge is a blow that further cements Russia’s struggle for Ukraine.

Surovikin (55), is Moscow’s third most senior military position in less than a week.

The change follows the reported sacking of the commanders of two of Russia’s five military regions this week, as its forces have suffered a series of dramatic reverses in northeastern and southern Ukraine in recent weeks.

Russia’s Defence Ministry didn’t say who Surovikin was replacing, if any.

Surovikin is married and has three children. He has been leading Russia’s Air and Space Forces from 2017. 

He previously oversaw Russia’s bloody campaign in Syria when Moscow intervened in 2015 on the side of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which managed to regain control of more than 50 per cent of the country.

Surovikin was the commander of Russian forces in Syria. He was accused of overseeing a brutal bombardment which decimated much of Aleppo.

In 2021, he was promoted to General in the Army – one of a few Russian officers to achieve this rank – and was then placed in charge of the troops in southern Ukraine over the summer.

He was hit with EU sanctions in February for his conduct. “responsible for actively supporting and implementing actions and policies that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

Surovikin’s appointment occurs as Russia faces losing the Christmas war, while Vlad’s army is in serious trouble. This will be a humiliating moment for the tyrant.

According to a senior British government source, his forces could be moved back to Russia’s border by the end the year if Kyiv continues its counter-offensive.

Ben Hodges, an ex-US military chief responsible for American forces in Europe, stated that Russian lines were rapidly collapsing.

Russian lines appear to be rapidly collapsing east of Ukraine, as President Zelensky’s men keep up their lightning counter-offensive.

Ukrainian fighters have retaken small areas of territory in north-east Kharkiv and are closing in on Kherson. This would be a humiliating defeat for the Kremlin if they were to capture Kherson.

Meanwhile, British intelligence said Russian tanks now make up a large chunk of Ukraine’s armour.

According to the Ministry of Defence Kyiv had captured and repurposed at minimum 440 Russian battle tanks as well as 650 armoured vehicles.

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Russia has suffered massive losses in Ukraine. The landscape is littered with destroyed tanks
Credit: Getty

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