Russian general accuses leaders of betrayal amidst political infighting and deaths of officers.

Russian General Sacked for Speaking Out Against Army Issues

A senior Russian general has been dismissed from his position after bravely voicing concerns about the state of the army to his superiors. In an audio recording that has since gone viral on social media, Major General Ivan Popov expressed his frustration, stating, “Our army was not broken through the front, but our most senior commander hit us in the back, thus treacherously beheading the army in the most difficult period.”

This incident is just the latest example of the internal divisions within Russian power centers. It comes only weeks after the dramatic uprising led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the CEO of the Wagner Group, against senior defense leaders. Popov’s remarks appear to be directed at General Valery Gerasimov and highlight the ongoing political infighting within the military command structure, which has also suffered the loss of senior generals in the conflict with Ukraine.

Revealing the Problems in the Army

Popov, in the audio recording, detailed the various issues plaguing the army, including operational and supply problems. He believes that his candidness led to his dismissal, as he explains, “Due to this, the seniors likely felt some danger in me and instantly, in one day, put together an order to the Minister of Defense and got rid of me.”

Interestingly, this audio emerged just days after General Gerasimov made his first public appearance since the Prigozhin uprising. Another high-ranking commander, General Sergey Surovikin, who was previously in charge of military operations in Ukraine, has also disappeared amidst rumors of his involvement in the mutiny.

Tragic Losses and Mysterious Deaths

The Russian officer corps has suffered several conventional casualties recently. Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov was killed on Monday, with Ukrainian officials confirming his death. Additionally, submarine commander Stanislav Rzhitsky was shot dead while jogging in Krasnodar. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.

These deaths add to the growing number of Russian generals who have lost their lives. Intelligence agencies from Japan and NATO estimate that the toll may exceed 20.

A Closed-Door Confrontation

Popov, who was overseeing military operations in Zaporizhzhia, a region that Russia aims to seize from Ukraine, has been vocal about the realities of the war. The audio attributed to him was made public by a former MP who previously commanded the same army. It suggests a behind-the-scenes clash over Popov’s refusal to sugarcoat the state of the conflict.

“I pointed the attention to the most important tragedy of the modern war — the lack of counterbattery fire, lack of artillery reconnaissance stations, and mass casualties and injuries of our brothers from enemy artillery,” Popov stated. “I also raised a number of other issues, expressed them to the highest levels, did it openly and very brutally.”

These revelations shed light on the challenges faced by the Russian army and the internal struggles within its ranks. The fallout from this incident will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the military and its leadership.

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