Russian President Vladimir Putin has replaced the commander of Russia's ground forces, Army General Oleg Salyukov, 69, appointing him deputy secretary of the Security Council, according to a decree published on the Kremlin's website on Thursday. The Security Council is the Kremlin's top consultative body, chaired by Putin, and which is responsible for managing and integrating national security policy. It does not have direct authority over Russia's security agencies and ministries.