Criticized by hardliners
Russia promotes controversial general
01/10/2023 2:12 p.m
When Russian troops are driven out of Lyman, Colonel-General Alexander Lupine falls out of favor with hardliners. Nevertheless, he is now moving up the ranks of Russia’s military leadership. It’s not their first replacement.
The Russian leadership has appointed Colonel-General Alexander Lapin as the new chief of staff of the ground forces, despite criticism from hardliners about his performance in Ukraine. This is reported by the Russian state news agency TASS. The 58-year-old was previously the commander of the Mitte military district.
In October, he came under criticism from Chechnya’s ruler Ramzan Kadyrov and the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, after Russian troops were driven out of the eastern Ukrainian city of Lyman. Kadyrov accused him of being responsible for the collapse of the front near the small town. Shortly thereafter, media reported on Lapin’s replacement as commander of Army Group “Center”. Kadyrov and Prigozhin both sent units to Ukraine.
Lapin’s appointment follows further personnel changes in the military leadership during the 11-month war against Ukraine. Although Russian troops conquered large areas in southern and eastern Ukraine, they also suffered painful defeats and were forced to retreat. In early October, Air Force General Sergei Surovikin was appointed supreme commander of the armed forces in Ukraine. The commanders of the East and West Military Districts had just been replaced. The dismissal of the commander of the Black Sea Fleet was also reported in August.
Lapin had commanded Russian troops in Syria for some time prior to the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In July, after the Russian conquest of the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk in the Donbass, he was awarded the Order of Hero of Russia.