Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, at least 48 high-ranking officials of the Russian Armed Forces have been dismissed. At least seven of them were subject to criminal proceedings. This is reported by Russian media, UNN reports.
Details
The largest number of resignations was in the Ministry of Defense. In two and a half years, 21 officials have been fired from there. In particular, the head of the ministry Sergei Shoigu and six of his deputies were laid off.
In addition, criminal cases of corruption were opened against five employees of the Defense Ministry. These are:
- Deputy Head of the Main Department of Innovative Development Vladimir Shesterov,
- Deputy Minister Timur Ivanov,
- Volodymyr Verteletsky, head of the Department for State Defense Order Support ,
- Yuriy Kuznetsov, Head of the Main Personnel Department,
- Chief of Staff of the Logistics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Bulgakov
The highest number of resignations in the Ministry of Defense apparatus occurred in 2024 - 14 out of 21. There were four resignations in 2023 and three in 2022.
It is noted that in the army, the largest number of resignations occurred in 2023, when the leader of the Wagner PMC Prigozhin mutinied.
The second largest group of resignations was the joint group of Russian troops in Ukraine, with 13 people leaving their leadership positions during the war. Seven of them were dismissed in 2023, four in 2022, and two in 2024.
Among the interesting ones is the resignation of the commander of the 20th Army Sukhrab Akhmedov, which is called the largest unit of the Russian Armed Forces on the Defense Ministry's website. In June 2023, Russian military commanders wrote that he was responsible for the heavy losses in the area of Kreminna during the formation. According to various sources, between 50 and 100 Russian soldiers were killed.
In addition, in July 2023, the commander of the 58th Guards Combined Arms Army, Ivan Popov, who criticized the policy of the Russian Defense Ministry, was dismissed.
During the war, eight commanders resigned in the military districts and five in the main commands. Among the most high-profile resignations in this category are those of the Air Force Commander Serhiy Surovikin and Navy Commander Mykola Yevmenov.
In addition, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, one dismissal has occurred even in the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. In particular, in May 2024, the head of the Main Communications Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, Vadim Shamarin, was arrested in a case of taking a bribe on a particularly large scale, and in July he was dismissed from his post.
Recall
British intelligence says Russian authorities are stepping up censorship against media and citizens, allowing property confiscation for “fakes about the Russian army” and expanding restrictions on “undesirable organizations” to control information and limit dissent about its war in Ukraine, according to a British intelligence report.