Ivan Popov appears to criticise head of army and defence minister, saying: ‘Our most senior commander hit us in the back’
Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates
A Russian general has said he has been fired as a commander after telling Moscow’s military leadership “the truth” about the dire situation at the front in Ukraine, as tensions in the Russian army grow in the aftermath of the Wagner group’s short-lived mutiny.
Maj Gen Ivan Popov, who commanded the 58th Combined Arms army, which is fighting on the front in Ukraine near Zaporizhzhia, said in a voice message that he had been fired after he brought up problems on the battlefield, including the lack of counter-battery fire as well as deaths and injuries the army was suffering from Ukrainian attacks.