Once again things are rumbled at the command of the Russian military. General Ivan Popov says he was fired because he “told the truth” about the war in Ukraine and the situation at the front. He made it known in a message circulated on the Telegram messaging app.
Popov was in charge of the troops on the Zaporizhia front. He complained to the Russian Defense Ministry that the army could do nothing about the Ukrainian artillery weapons. “He felt he needed to speak up about this, and that wasn’t well received,” says defense analyst Patrick Bolder of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague.
With the alleged dismissal, Bolder sees a trend within the Russian military, which he believes is grappling with a leadership problem. “Thirteen or fifteen generals have already been arrested or released. So that leadership issue is a very big one, and I think it has everything to do with that.’
Defence
According to Bolder, Popov’s alleged sacking, and all recent sackings, have little effect on the war at the moment. This is because Russia is currently waging a defensive war. They’ve already been able to organize that defense for six months, so the loss of some leaders does little for the course of the war.
“Also, the Russians strongly adhere to the doctrine,” Bolder says. “That’s a prescribed course of action. If you do, leadership doesn’t really matter, because that’s what you need especially when you need creativity.” But in the long run, leadership is more important to getting motivation right with men. And that’s what seems to be missing.’
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
