Russia: Dmitry Palyuga discusses failing faith in Putin

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On Saturday, Russia’s Defence Ministry announced that General Dmitry Bulgakov had been “transferred to another role” and will be replaced by Col Gen Mikhail Mizintsev. General Bulgakov is not the first senior military to be fired, as it has been reported at least seven generals have been fired by President Putin in recent months, suggesting a lack of trust between the Russian leader and his military.

The reasons for General Bulgakov’s dismissal are unknown, however, it has been suggested that the general is being blamed for failed logistics operations during the Ukraine invasion, as Russian soldiers have left undersupplied. 

It comes at a time video footage has appeared on social media which showed Russian soldiers with rusty assault rifles.

This week, it was also reported that the Ukraine military had captured dozens of tanks left by Russian troops as Ukraine has captured more occupied land, and the haul has been reported as a significant outcome. 

General Bulgakov had been in charge of Russian military operations since 2008, including the 2015 Syria campaign where he was responsible for keeping the Russian military supplied. 

General Bulgakov will be replaced by Col Gen Mikhail Mizintsev, who has been nicknamed “the Butcher of Mariupol” by Ukraine. 

The general has been sanctioned by the UK over his role in the siege of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which was taken by Russia in May. 

The general has been accused of ordering strikes on a children’s hospital, a maternity hospital as well as on civilian homes in Mariupol. 

The UK foreign office has said General Mizintsev had used “reprehensible tactics” and had committed “atrocities”. 

He has also commanded troops during the Syrian conflict and was responsible for the destruction of Aleppo. 

The responsibilities of the newly appointed General Mizintsev will be to equip new recruits after President Putin ordered a partial mobilisation, which calls Russian citizens that are in the armed forces reserves to be in the military full time. 

Ukraine has taken back land in the east this month and claims to have regained 6,000 square kilometres of territory in its counteroffensive, which has forced Russian soldiers to retreat. 

It is being reported that there are tensions between Putin and his commanders at the moment. 

US officials are claiming that President Putin is ignoring his commanders to withdraw troops from the southern Ukrainian city Kherson, after it was reported that Ukrainian forces may soon surround the area, according to the New York Times. 

This has reportedly caused disagreements between the Russian leader and the Russian military, as morale among soldiers is low as they fear they will be cut off from supply lines. 

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US officials have told CNN that the “dysfunctional command structure” of the Russian military has led President Putin to take action. 

The White House has also said that President Putin is “struggling” as issues with the Russian army continue as Ukraine regains more of its territory. 

John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman said: “He has terrible morale, unit cohesion on the battlefield, command and control has still not been solved. 

“He’s got desertion problems and he’s forcing the wounded back into the fight. So clearly, manpower is a problem for him. He feels like he’s on his back foot.”

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