The Commander of Russia’s 58th Army, Major General Ivan Popov, has announced his dismissal following his candid critique of military leadership and the alarming circumstances experienced by Russian forces engaged in conflict in Ukraine’s southern region, Zaporizhzhia.
Popov conveyed in an audio message that he faced two options: to maintain silence and act cowardly or to voice the harsh realities faced by his forces. He said, “My obligation was not to deceive you, or the memory of our fallen brethren, hence, I highlighted all the existing problems.”
This voice message was released on the Telegram platform by Russian MP and ex-military commander, Andrei Gurulyov, who frequently appears as a commentator on state TV. The recording’s exact timing remains uncertain.
Popov voiced concerns to his superiors about the absence of effective counter-battery systems, essential in resisting Ukrainian artillery attacks, and an alarming dearth of military intelligence. He further stated that his termination was demanded by high-ranking commanders, who he accuses of betrayal, and was sanctioned by Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu.
Reliable sources from Russian military bloggers, who often provide valuable insights in the absence of formal statements from Moscow, suggested that the directive to oust Popov came from the Chief of Russia’s Armed Forces, General Valery Gerasimov.
Popov was accused of inducing panic and intimidating higher management after he emphasized the urgency of rotating frontline soldiers who had experienced heavy losses over extended periods. Popov stated, “Senior officials perceived a threat from me, swiftly engineered a directive from the defence minister in a day, and dispensed with me.”
He further accused high-ranking officers of undermining the force, saying, “Our lines at the front were intact against the Ukrainian army, but our senior management struck from the rear, ruthlessly decapitating the army at the most intense and critical moment.”
There has been no comment from the Russian Defence Ministry about the termination.
Nonetheless, Andrei Turchak, a high-ranking official of the pro-government United Russia party, of which Gurulyov is a member, reproached the MP for dramatizing Major General Popov’s comments.
Turchak wrote on Telegram that “General Popov’s comments were not meant for the public and were shared on closed channels of the commanders and troops of the 58th Army.” He added that Popov’s conscience was clear and that the nation could take pride in commanders of his caliber.
Meanwhile, another senior Russian General, Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, is rumored to have been killed in a strike in Ukraine’s occupied southern coast this week, although Russia’s Defence Ministry has yet to confirm his death officially.
