# Valery Gerasimov

Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov (Russian: Вале́рий Васи́льевич Гера́симов) (born 8 September 1955) is a Russian General of the Army, the current Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, and first Deputy Defence Minister. He was appointed by President Vladimir Putin on 9 November 2012.

## Quotes

* In the 21st century, there is a tendency to blur the distinction between the state of war and peace. Wars are no longer declared, and once they have begun, they do not proceed according to the pattern we are accustomed to.
** "Ценность науки в предвидении" (26 February 2013)
* Among such actions are the use of special-operations forces and internal opposition to create a permanently operating front through the entire territory of the enemy state, as well as informational actions, devices, and means that are constantly being perfected.
** "Ценность науки в предвидении" (26 February 2013)
* The emphasis of the used methods of confrontation is shifting towards the widespread use of political, economic, informational, humanitarian and other non-military measures, implemented with the use of the protest potential of the population. All this is complemented by military measures of a covert nature, including the implementation of information warfare measures and the actions of special operations forces. The open use of force, often under the guise of peacekeeping and crisis settlement, is only shifted at some stage, mainly to achieve final success in a conflict.
** "Ценность науки в предвидении" (26 February 2013)
* Asymmetric actions have become widespread, making it possible to neutralize the enemy's superiority in armed struggle. These include the use of special operations forces and internal opposition to create a permanently operating front throughout the territory of the opposing state, as well as informational influence, the forms and methods of which are constantly being improved.
** "Ценность науки в предвидении" (26 February 2013)
* Another factor influencing the change in the content of modern methods of warfare is the use of modern military robotic systems and research in the field of artificial intelligence. In addition to flying drones today, tomorrow the battlefield will be filled with walking, crawling, jumping and flying robots. In the near future, it is possible to create fully robotic formations capable of conducting independent combat operations.
** "Ценность науки в предвидении" (26 February 2013)
* At the same time, we should not copy someone else's experience and catch up with the leading countries, but work ahead of the curve and be in leading positions ourselves. And here military science plays an important role.
** "Ценность науки в предвидении" (26 February 2013)
* Any scientific research in the field of military science is worthless if military theory does not provide the function of foresight.
** "Ценность науки в предвидении" (26 February 2013)
* Nuclear weapons are considered as a means of forcing a potential adversary to refuse to unleash aggression against our country.
** "Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General of the Army Valery Gerasimov holds briefing for foreign military attaches" (24 December 2020)
* Information about Russia's alleged impending invasion of Ukraine is a lie.
** Claimed on December 9, 2021, while Russia was building up forces for the invasion of Ukraine, quoted in "Russia denies it plans to attack Ukraine", Anadolu Agency (December 9, 2021)
* Russia managed to put an end to the advance of the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region.
** Claimed on August 7, 2024, on the second day of the Ukrainian incursion into Russia, quoted in "Russia, General Gerasimov: "Advanced halt to the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region"", Agenzia Nova (August 7, 2024)