Ukraine war: Russian general fired after criticising army leaders

A apical Russian wide says helium has been removed from his station successful Ukraine aft telling subject chiefs the information astir the dire concern connected the beforehand line.

Maj Gen Ivan Popov was the commandant of the 58th Army, which has been warring successful the confederate Zaporizhzhia region.

In a dependable message, Maj Gen Popov said helium raised questions astir precocious casualty complaint and deficiency of artillery support.

"It was indispensable either to support quiescent and beryllium a coward oregon to accidental it the mode it is," helium said.

"I had nary close to prevarication successful the sanction of you, successful the sanction of my fallen comrades successful arms, truthful I outlined each the problems which exist."

The dependable connection was posted to telegram by Russian MP Andrei Gurulyov, who is simply a erstwhile subject commandant and predominant commentator connected authorities TV. It is unclear erstwhile the connection was recorded.

Among the issues Maj Gen Popov said helium highlighted to his superiors were the deficiency of due antagonistic artillery systems to assistance repel Ukrainian artillery attacks, arsenic good arsenic a deficiency of subject intelligence.

The commandant said his dismissal was demanded by elder commanders - who helium accused of treason - and approved by the Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu.

Russian subject bloggers - often the astir insightful signifier of accusation successful the lack of authoritative remark from Moscow - reported that the bid to disregard Maj Gen Popov had travel from the caput of Russia's equipped forces, Gen Valery Gerasimov.

They said Gen Gerasimov accused Maj Gen Popov of "alarmism and blackmailing elder management" aft helium highlighted the request to rotate soldiers who had been successful the beforehand enactment for a sustained play of clip and had suffered important losses.

"The elder chiefs seemingly sensed immoderate benignant of information from maine and rapidly concocted an bid from the defence curate successful conscionable 1 time and got escaped of me," Maj Gen Popov said.

"The Ukrainian service could not interruption done our ranks astatine the beforehand but our elder main deed america from the rear, viciously beheading the service astatine the astir hard and aggravated moment."

The Russian defence ministry has yet to remark connected the dismissal.

However, a elder authoritative of the pro-government United Russia party, of which Mr Gurulyov is simply a member, criticised the MP for making a "political show" retired of Maj Gen Popov's remarks.

"General Popov's connection was not nationalist and was posted connected closed chats of the commanders and troops of the 58th Army," Andrei Turchak wrote connected telegram.

"Let the information that... Gurulyov someway got clasp of this and made a governmental amusement retired of it stay connected his conscience," helium said, adding that Maj Gen Popov's conscience was wide and the state could beryllium arrogant of commanders similar him.

Gen Surovikin was said to bask adjacent relations with the erstwhile Wagner brag Yevgeny Prigozhin and determination had been media reports that helium had been arrested pursuing the little revolt.

There has been nary authoritative confirmation oregon remark astir his whereabouts.