Putin’s military reshuffle is more about politics than a change of strategy

The Russian president may have put Gen Gerasimov in charge of the invasion to balance tensions between the army and the Wagner group

Another month, another Russian military reshuffle: Vladimir Putin changes the general in charge of his forces in Ukraine with something of the frequency of a Premier League club desperate to secure immediate success.

It is obvious that such inconsistency demonstrates that the Kremlin is dissatisfied with the conduct of the war but the decision to put Gen Valery Gerasimov, the head of the armed forces, in charge of the invasion is eye-catching for other reasons too.