Vedomosti

Solovtsov

A short Kremlin statement said President Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree appointing General Andrei Shvaichenko, 56, as the new commander.

“Under the same decree, General Nikolai Yegenyevich Solovtsov was relieved from the duties of commander of the strategic missile forces and dismissed from military service,” it said.

It gave no reason for sacking Solovtsov and replacing him with Shvaichenko, his first deputy.

Media earlier said Solovtsov, who had headed the force since 2001, was asked for his resignation despite the fact that Medvedev had allowed him to continue serving after reaching the retirement age of 60 in February.

His departure follows a series of failed test launches of Bulava, a new-generation strategic missile designed for nuclear submarines. Two weeks ago, the chief designer of Bulava quit.

Solovtsov’s sacking also coincided with a widespread reform of the military, which has been opposed by many senior officers.

Medvedev has backed a plan by Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to trim and restructure the 1.2 million armed forces.

The president says reform was inevitable after the military operation in Georgia last year highlighted gaps in troop training and equipment, as well as problems in the organization of the armed forces.