Gerasimov disappeared from the Zapad-2025 exercises: why is this important?
Фото: t.me/agentstvonews
This year’s Russian military exercises “West-2025”, which the Kremlin always uses as a demonstration of strength and political pathos, were notable not only for the number of personnel, but also for an unexpected “personnel hole”. At the final phase of the maneuvers in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where Putin personally appeared, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, was absent.
This is reported by “Agency. News”.
Journalists in the Kremlin pool directly pointed out his absence — in particular, Andrey Kolesnikov wrote that he “looked for him everywhere,” but in vain. The General Staff was represented this time by Andrey Mordvichev, the chief of the Ground Forces.
Given that Gerasimov has been at all the “Events” since 2009, his sudden disappearance is a signal. Since 2012, he has been the Chief of the General Staff, and for a long time he has been next to Putin and Shoigu at top maneuvers (in particular, in 2013, 2017, 2021).
This time, the dictator was surrounded by others: Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, his deputy Yevkurov, Putin’s aide Dyumin, and the same Mordvichev. It was the latter with whom Putin spoke after the exercises ended.
An important nuance: very recently, Russian media reported on the extension of Gerasimov’s term of service after he turned 70. But physically, he is no longer at the event — neither in the photo, nor in the frame, nor next to Putin.
What else has changed?
The scale of the exercises is smaller: 100,000 military personnel were officially announced, but initially the figure was only 57,000. For comparison: in 2021 there were over 200,000.
This time, on the contrary, there are more techniques.
And one more detail: Putin appeared in military uniform for the first time. In previous years, he had not “disguised” himself so much.
It should be noted that Gerasimov’s public absence from such an event is a symptom of processes at the top of the Russian command. Whether it’s a “resignation without resignation” or a redistribution of powers, something is definitely happening under the carpet. And it seems that the dictator is already talking to other generals.
As a reminder, Russian military personnel began leaving Belarusian training grounds after the completion of the Zapad-2025 exercises.
As reported, on September 12, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense announced the start of the joint strategic exercise of the Armed Forces of Belarus and the Russian Federation “West-2025”.
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