In the latest shake-up of Russia's military command, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov will replace the man known as 'General Armageddon'.
The changes are designed to increase the effectiveness of military operations in Ukraine, the ministry said, more than 10 months into a campaign in which tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, as well as Ukrainian civilians, have been killed.
He said Mr Surovikin, a veteran of Russian campaigns in Chechnya and Syria, was being made the fall guy for a series of recent Russian military failures, including a Ukrainian attack on a Russian barracks in the town of Makiivka that killed at least 89 Russian soldiers, including conscripts, at new year.
"I don't think this is because Surovikin is viewed as a failure. certainly possible that this was driven by political reasons, Mr Lee said. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu appointed Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov on Wednesday.
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