Russian army general claims he was fired for telling truth about Ukraine war

Moscow: A Russian army general has alleged that he was fired from his position after speaking out about the dire conditions of soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

Major General Ivan Popov, who commanded Russia's troops in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, made this revelation in an audio message released by a Russian lawmaker. The timing of this disclosure coincides with the recent suppression of the Russian army's uprising, leaving the future of the mercenaries uncertain and the outcome of the Ukraine war in question.

In the audio clip, which was posted on Telegram by politician Andrey Gurulev, Major General Popov claims that he was removed from his post for telling the truth. He emphasised the importance of acknowledging the tragic realities of modern warfare, including the lack of effective counter-battery combat, reconnaissance, and the high number of casualties caused by enemy artillery. The recording does not disclose how Gurulev obtained the message.

According to Reuters, Major General Ivan Popov further criticised the top military brass, stating that Russian soldiers had been betrayed by their superiors. He alleged that while the Ukrainian army was unable to penetrate their front lines, it was the actions of their own senior leadership that dealt a severe blow to the army at a critical moment.

Popov, known by his military call sign "Spartacus," specifically highlighted the deaths of Russian soldiers caused by Ukrainian artillery and the inadequate measures in place to counter such attacks. He also expressed concerns about the lack of proper artillery systems and reconnaissance capabilities to assess enemy positions.

There has been no response from the Russian defence ministry regarding these claims, and the authenticity of the voice message has not been independently verified by Reuters. Lawmaker Gurulev, who shared the audio recording, is a former army commander known for his staunch views and frequent appearances on state television.