Russian general returns to the fight with an illegal ex-prisoner unit
Russian general returns to the fight with an illegal ex-prisoner unit
An upright advance of one of the loudest generals in Russia, which was released and detained two years ago after a harsh criticism of the Ministry of Defense, now leads him back to the front, reports his lawyer.
return to the front
According to the Russian state media, however, he received a "poisoned chalice": the front command of a notorious battalion of former prisoners who suffered high losses in Ukraine. Two years ago, Major Ivan Popov was the excellent commander of the 58th combined army army in southern Ukraine, which was praised for his leadership. But a mistake, a voice message in which he sharply criticized and explained the leadership of the Ministry of Defense that he had been released because he had complained, ended his career abruptly.
criticism of military leadership
In his message, which was sent in July 2023, Popov said: "The Ukrainian armed forces could not break our army from the front, (but) Our top commander hit us from behind, insidious and rustling, and the army is in the most difficult and tense moments." The majority of his anger for the chief of staff of the Russian armed forces, Valery Gerasimov.
POPOV said that when he complained about the lack of artillery support and other problems, "the upper commanders felt the danger in me and quickly worked out for the defense minister, on one day, abandoned me from the order and got rid of me." Kateryna Stepanenko from the Washington Institute for War Studies reports that Popov's dismissal has "angry Russian ultra -nationalists, officers and veterans" who accused the Ministry of Popov to cover up problems in the Russian military
The Situation escalates
Life for Popov worsened. First he was sent to Syria as deputy commander of the Russian contingent, but in May last year he was arrested for alleged fraud, an indictment that he vehemently denied. The public prosecutor demanded a six -year prison sentence if he is convicted and Popov was released from the armed forces. Despite these circumstances, his supporters continued to talk to him.
An open letter to Putin
Popov wrote an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was published in the state media at the end of March and in which he asked to return to the battlefield. In this letter he described Putin as his "moral leader and role model", whose example helped him to understand the legendary words: "A cool head, a warm heart and clean hands." His wishes have now been partially fulfilled.
Development of the situation
Last week, Russian state media reported that his lawyer and the Ministry of Defense had achieved agreement on Popov's return to active service in order to avoid a possible prison sentence. Popov's lawyer Sergei Buinovsky was quoted by TASS: "We, together with the Ministry of Defense, have an application for suspension in the case ... with the positive decision to send Ivan Ivanovich to the SVO (the general military operation)." Moscow continues to use this term to describe the large -scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022.back in the "Storm Z" unit
Although it still has to be confirmed that the military court has approved the deal, Popov's supporters were happy among the Russian military bloggers. "The legendary fighter general returns to the front!", Wrote the popular blogger Vladimir Rogov. But there is a drop of bitterness: Popov will not return to his beloved 58th army.
On Thursday, the Russian business newspaper reported that Popov was not sent to the SVO as a regular storm trusster, but as a commander of one of the Sturm-Z units ”, citing a source from the security forces. On the same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov threw no light on the intention of General Popov, which is accused of fraud, in a conversation with journalists.
a dangerous order
Stepanenko describes Popov's assignment as "practically a death sentence", since the Russian military command mainly uses "Storm Z" criminal detention center for suicide frontal attacks. The Kremlin continued to support the use of prisoners in the fight. Putin recently promised to give the members of Storm Z the veteran status. "We will definitely regulate this. I don't see any problems here," said Putin in a meeting last month and added: "I have great connections, I will get an agreement with the government and the MPs."
summary
While the Russian military is trying to increase the number of experienced officers in Ukraine, it is increasingly turning to those who have fallen out of favor. Stepanenko notes: "Putin has apparently set up a new reparation system in which disqualified civil servants and commanders have a chance to regain Putin's favor, provided they are publicly committed to their charges and then voluntarily register for the fight in Ukraine." Popov denied the allegations against him, and a military court still has to regain the agreement between his lawyer and the Ministry of Defense.
Since Popov is undoubtedly familiar with the notorious units of former prisoners who played an oversized role in the attack on Bakhmut in 2023 and suffered immense losses, he could need his military skill to keep his battalion and himself alive as soon as he is back on the battlefield.