Russia’s Defense Ministry has appointed a new commander to lead its forces in Ukraine, in the latest shake-up of Russia’s military command structure in the wake of devastating battlefield losses. Russian army General Valery Gerasimov replaces Sergei Surovikin, who will be demoted after just three months as commander. Gerasimov played a key role in Russia’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and helped lead Russian forces in Syria supporting President Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied claims that Russian forces led by Wagner Group mercenaries have seized control of the eastern city of Soledar, where Russia claims to have killed about 500 Ukrainian soldiers.