On January 11, 2023, it became known that Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, was appointed commander of the Joint Group of Russian Invaders in Ukraine. Previously, this position was held by Sergey Surovikin.

The appointment of Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov as commander of the Russian occupation forces in Ukraine instead of General Sergei Surovikin indicates that Shoigu and Gerasimov managed to get out of disgrace and regain their positions.

On the air of Apostrophe TV, Russian human rights activist and lawyer Mark Feygin expressed the opinion that the power apparatus of the Russian Federation won the confrontation with "various non-conventional elements such as Prigozhin and Kadyrov."

"Now they will report to the commander of the so-called "special operation", and I think that Gerasimov will take the opportunity to set impossible tasks for the Wagner PMC. But I think this is a purely apparatus game: they somehow convinced Putin - namely everything agreed with him - that it is necessary to return the situation to centralized leadership, discipline, and respect for the authorities. And Putin, as always, promised one thing at the wiring, but in the end, played everything in the opposite direction," the expert explained.

At the same time, Feigyn drew attention to the fact that Konashenkov, contrary to Prigozhin's statements that the invaders practically occupied Soledar, noted that the city had not yet been taken.

"And this is a clear blow towards these paramilitary formations, which are not subject to a single command, particularly the Wagner PMC. And I think the generals are restoring their position," he said.

Feigin also recalled the words of Prigozhin's mercenaries to Gerasimov. The human rights activist does not rule out that the commander of the so-called "special operation" will not leave this case just like that.

“Do you remember the story when Prigozhin’s ‘contract workers’ called Gerasimov a fer? And Prigozhin confirmed that it was his mercenaries who said that they really thought so. And what will they call him now, referring to him now as the commander of the "special operation", and not just as the head of the General Staff? And how Gerasimov will behave in relation to these "Wagnerites", who are now clearly found, and it is not known what will be done to them. Such things are not forgiven," Feygin emphasized.