Major-General Ivan Popov, commander-in-chief of Russia’s 58th Combined Arms Army stationed in southern Ukraine, has reportedly been dismissed by Moscow’s military leadership over his concerns for troops fighting without rest and criticism of Russian battlefield strategy.

Popov had addressed soldiers in a voice message circulated on the Telegram messaging app, noting the greatest tragedy of modern war – the lack of artillery reconnaissance and counterstrikes and the multiple deaths and injuries caused by enemy artillery.

His vocal criticism of his superiors seems to have led to his removal, and has highlighted the ongoing inefficiencies of the Russian military. Popov had drawn attention to the lack of artillery reconnaissance and counterstrikes, as well as the mass death and injury of Russian troops due to enemy artillery.

He is said to have told Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov that his troops had been in battle for extended periods of time and had suffered significant casualties, and were in need of rotation away from the front.

Gerasimov reportedly accused Popov of alarmism and blackmailing the Russian military command. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this week Popov’s removal was reportedly linked to his complaints over Moscow’s failure to rotate and rest Russian troops from the front lines in Ukraine.

It assessed that Russian forces lacked operational reserves that would allow them to carry out rotations of personnel defending against Ukrainian counteroffensives and that Russian defensive lines may be brittle.

Popov’s dismissal and criticism of the Russian military leadership echo the anger expressed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia’s Wagner mercenary forces, who had for months berated top commanders in Moscow for poor military planning before launching a short-lived uprising by his mercenaries in June to remove senior Russian defence officials.

Prigozhin called off his 24-hour mutiny as Wagner units closed in on Moscow and he secured a deal to leave Russia with his fighters for bases to be established in neighbouring Belarus.

On Wednesday, Russia’s defence ministry reported that Wagner forces had handed over a large amount of heavy weaponry provided to them for operations in Ukraine, including T-90 and T-80 tanks, multiple rocket launchers, numerous artillery systems, as well as 2,500 tonnes of ammunition of various types and 20,000 firearms.

It remains unclear whether Prigozhin's fighters will take up the offer of exile in Belarus, however, the return of weaponry appears to be part of the agreement between Moscow and Prigozhin following the mutiny.

Major-General Ivan Popov’s dismissal from the Russian military has raised questions about the inefficiencies of the Russian battlefield strategy, and its impact on the war in Ukraine.

His vocal criticism of his superiors appears to have been a factor in his removal, and it is clear that Russia’s military command is determined to keep such issues out of the public eye.