The commander of the Russian 58th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, Major General Ivan Popov (call sign Spartak) claims that he was sacked after his report on the main issues on “combat work and provisions” in the Russian army. Popov’s message to his soldiers was shared online by Russian deputy and former Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District Andrey Gurulyov.
The 58th army is fighting in the Zaporizhzhia direction. According to Popov, he “firmly” pointed out all the issues present in the Russian army to the higher command.
“I told everything as is, I drew attention to the main tragedy of the modern war — the lack of counter-battery combat, the lack of artillery reconnaissance stations, and the mass deaths and injuries of our brothers by the enemy artillery,” he said. He added that he let the “highest” higher-ups know about the issues.
According to him, the “senior chiefs” likely saw a certain “danger” in him and “rapidly, in one day, drew up an order, the defence minister signed it,” and he was “got rid of”.
“As many commanders of division regiments said today, our army wasn’t penetrated from the front by servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, we were hit from the rear by our senior chiefs, [they] beheaded the army treacherously and cowardly during the hardest and most intense moment,” Popov said. According to the former commander, the 58th army is currently being headed by Lieutenant General Denis Lyamin.
Secretary of the General Council of United Russia and senator Andrey Turchak commented on Popov’s claims.
“General Popov’s message was not for the public and posted in the closed chats of the commanders and fighters of the 58th army. The fact that ‘deputy’ Gurulyov managed to receive it somehow and created a political show out of it will remain on his conscience. Just like all of his statements and comments. But Ivan’s conscience is clear. Homeland can be proud of such commanders. Army has been and remains outside of politics,” Turchak said.
Popov’s dismissal was previously reported by the PMC Wagner affiliated Telegram channel Grey Zone. According to the published post, Popov presented his report to the Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov, following which he was sacked. Popov, in particular, allegedly proposed to carry out a rotation of Russian units stationed at the front line; Gerasimov responded saying that Popov was “spreading disinformation and fear mongering”, as per Grey Zone.