Russian troops are waging a ferocious house-to-house battle in eastern Ukraine - as President Vladimir Putin slapped a major reshuffle on top generals.
The latest Kremlin changes at the top of its military could signal a new and terrifying escalation as Russia's military leaders compete for better results in Ukraine
Desperate Putin has reined in both a Chechen warlord and a notorious mercenary leader by appointing General Valery Gerasimov as head of Russian forces.
At the same time as promoting Gerasimov above them he has also demoted so-called General “Armageddon” Sergei Surovikin to become the military number two.
It means both Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Wagner Group villain Yevgeny Prigozhin have been sidelined as their arch rival Gerasimov is now overall boss.
In one blow Putin has repositioned the Russian regular army as all-powerful, whilst putting the Chechen and Wagner axis firmly in their place.
But the reshuffle comes amid growing rumours that Putin’s power position is massively weakened and that he is desperately trying to shore up his support network.
Ukraine has claimed Russia is losing up to 600 troops a-day in fighting, whilst Kyiv’s troops are dying at a rate of between 50 and 60.
Getting the army back on Putin’s side may make his position stronger, although Yevgeny’s Wagner troops are leading the way in the brutal battle for key two Soledar.
On Friday there were Russian claims from the frontline that Moscow’s forces had taken the strategic town in east Ukraine, although Ukraine denied the claim.
Fighting around Soledar and Bahkmut has highlighted a growing rift between the Russian MoD and rogue Wagner boss Prigozhin, who has openly insulted the ministry.
He is even claiming his mercenaries had captured Soledar themselves whilst the Moscow MoD described Russian gains there as being fought by regular paratroopers.
Prigozhin has scathingly criticised top brass for blunders in Ukraine, saying Wagner was more efficient than regular troops and he is allied to Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
The Washington-based Institute of the Study of War said the reshuffle as an attempt by the Kremlin to "reassert the primacy of the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert at University College, London, said Gen Gerasimov now held "the most poisoned of chalices" as he now will bear direct responsibility for any more setbacks.
He said: "Gerasimov is hanging by a thread.
"He needs some kind of win, or a career ends in ignominy. This may well suggest some kinds of escalation."
