Who is Gierasimow – General who started the War

Valery Gierasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, is one of the central figures of Moscow’s war machine. Since 2012 he has overseen strategic planning and military operations, and his name is tied directly to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For the Kremlin, he is the embodiment of continuity – a professional officer who has served the state for decades.

For Putin, Gierasimov is a useful but replaceable instrument. Unlike other generals who sought visibility or clashed with rivals, he remained in the background, quietly executing orders. The extension of his service reflects the president’s desire for stability within the chain of command at a time when the war has drained political and military resources.

Who is Gierasimov? He is a product of the Soviet military system – disciplined, discreet, more of a staff officer than a battlefield commander. His career advanced steadily through the ranks, shaped by loyalty rather than charisma. Outside Russia, his name became associated with the so-called „Gerasimov Doctrine,” though in reality it was a misinterpretation of his reflections on modern warfare.

What comes next? At seventy, he is at once a pillar of institutional memory and a potential liability. Putin has shown little patience for aging generals who surround him, and the Kremlin may eventually look to younger figures to project vigor and adaptability. Yet there is another side: Putin’s fascination with history – especially Russia’s – and his tendency to immerse himself in it, as he famously did during his meeting with Trump.

In this sense, Gierasimov may be kept close not only for his military utility, but as a living symbol of the story Putin wants to tell about Russia. This was underscored on 8 September 2025, when Putin decorated him with the Order of Courage as the current Chief of the General Staff and commander of operations in Ukraine – proof that, for now, he remains indispensable to the Kremlin.