Suspended army commander addresses subordinates Scandal in Russian army

The commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District (SMD), Major General Ivan Popov, addressed his subordinates with a statement about his removal from service.

According to Gazeta.ru, the general's appeal was published by State Duma deputy and former commander of the 58th Army Andrei Gurulev on the Telegram channel.

In his statement, Popov noted that from the first day of his arrival in the Russian army, he was honest. According to him, a difficult situation arose between him and the senior authorities, in which "it was necessary either to remain silent and cowardly" or "to call a spade a spade."

The general said that in the course of a conversation with his superiors, he raised the problematic issues that exist in the army, expressing his opinion "frankly and extremely harshly." According to Popov, for this reason, they saw a danger in him, and one day an order was issued by the Minister of Defense to remove him from service.

According to the Major General, Lieutenant General Denis Lyamin was appointed to his place. Now Popov is waiting for proposals for further service.