Russian Chief of Staff Inspects Troops in Ukraine

The Ministry of Defense reported today, Tuesday, that the Chief of Staff of the Russian Army, Valery Gerasimov, inspected Russian troops on the front line in Ukraine. It stated that Gerasimov received reports from commanders and "identified tasks for further action on them." Gerasimov's visits to Russian troops on the front line have recurred during nearly two and a half years of war. He has faced sharp criticism due to setbacks and withdrawals of Russian forces in 2022, prior to a gradual advance since Russia regained the initiative and seized the city of Avdiivka in the east in February. While Russia has yet to achieve any strategic success, its forces control almost one-fifth of Ukrainian territory amid a lack of any prospects for the end of the war. In June, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Gerasimov and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for war crimes related to targeting civilians and non-military infrastructure.