The recent dismissal of a senior Russian general who commanded forces in occupied southern Ukraine has sparked an uproar among the international community.
Gen. Ivan Popov, the commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, was dismissed after accusing Moscow’s Defense Ministry leadership of betraying his troops by not providing sufficient support.
In a voice note published on Telegram, Gen. Popov revealed that he had questioned “the lack of counter-battery combat, the absence of artillery reconnaissance stations and the mass deaths and injuries of our brothers from enemy artillery.”
He added that he raised these issues “at the highest level frankly and extremely harshly” before Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu “signed the order and got rid of me,” thus accusing him of treason.
Popov also addressed his troops with words meant to encourage them: “Good night, my beloved gladiators, beloved relatives, one family…I am always available to you. It is an honor for me to stand with you in the same ranks.”
He continued on to state that he would, “do everything in my power and even more so that it would be easier for you to fight so as many of our comrades as possible come back alive.”
The dismissal comes less than three weeks after Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s short-lived mutiny over a lack of support from the Russian Defense Ministry. Additionally, another Russian commander – Sergey Surovikin – has gone missing since then without any public explanation from Moscow officials.
According to documents shared with CNN in June this year, Surovikin was secretly part of a private military company fighting in Ukraine alongside Wagner mercenaries.
Reports suggest that Popov notified Russia’s top general Valery Gerasimov about elements within his army being in need of rotation due to their long period spent fighting on front lines coupled with significant casualties they have incurred.
The Washington-based Institute for Study War (ISW) further assessed this situation and determined that this could mean that Russian forces lack operational reserves needed to carry out rotations. This leaves defensive lines vulnerable against attacks coming from Kiev side leading to inevitably heavy losses in infrastructure equipment.
The controversy surrounding Gen Popov’s dismissal raises serious questions about Moscow’s commitment to maintaining military presence in Eastern Europe despite defense ministry claims otherwise.
