Russian General Officers Dying or Dismissed One After Another... Ukraine Becoming a 'Graveyard of Stars,' Putin Cornered

At Least 8 Russian Generals Dismissed, 10 Dead
"Putin Blames Military Leadership for Failures After Invasion Plan Collapse"

The Ukraine war, now entering its eighth month, is rapidly turning unfavorable for Russia. The photo shows Russian President Vladimir Putin attending a wreath-laying ceremony in Moscow on February 23, 2017, in observance of Defender of the Fatherland Day. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The Ukraine war, now entering its eighth month, is rapidly turning unfavorable for Russia. Ukraine is accelerating the recapture of territories occupied by Russia, and criticism of the military leadership is spreading within Russia, which is under pressure. In particular, Russian generals appear to be facing increasing trials.

According to a recent report by The Washington Post (WP), at least eight Russian generals who had been fighting on the front lines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February have been dismissed or sidelined.

A prominent figure among them is Lieutenant General Dobornikov, who has been on battlefields for over 44 years. He was appointed as a General in April and served as the overall commander of the Ukraine war, but was dismissed after seven weeks due to lack of significant achievements.

Additionally, Lieutenant General Andrey Serdyukov, who was the commander of the airborne troops, lost his position after his division suffered heavy losses during the war. Last week, Lieutenant General Aleksandr Zhuravlev, who oversaw the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, was also dismissed after four years of military service.

There have also been many casualties due to Ukraine's strong counterattacks. According to Western estimates, at least ten Russian generals have died in combat since the outbreak of the war.

WP analyzed that the Russian political sphere is targeting high-ranking generals deployed on the front lines as scapegoats. As the war situation fails to turn in their favor and internal public opinion worsens, the blame is being shifted onto military generals.

In fact, Russian politicians have increased their level of reprimand against senior officers, including allegations that commanders embezzled parts of the budget. Because these matters are rarely exposed to the public or media and personnel announcements are often conducted privately, it is easy to cover up and assign blame.

WP reported that the ongoing reprimands against military commanders within Russia appear to be evidence of Russia's failure to systematically plan the war.

However, it is pointed out that the military leadership within Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle (core power group) is excluded from accountability. Notable figures include Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who exert the greatest influence on the war. WP also noted that there is no external criticism of President Putin, who is the actual person responsible for this war.

The Ukraine war, now entering its eighth month, is rapidly turning unfavorable for Russia. The photo shows Ukrainian forces recapturing the Izium area in the northeastern Kharkiv region from Russia on the 13th of last month.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, signs continue to emerge that Russian forces are being pushed back in the four occupied regions of Ukraine that Russia declared annexed. Earlier on the 5th (local time), according to TASS news agency, President Putin completed the annexation process by signing laws related to the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, which were sent by the Russian parliament.

However, these regions have recently been breached by advancing Ukrainian forces. One day after Russia declared the annexation of these territories, Ukrainian forces recaptured Lyman, a strategic point leading to eastern Luhansk, and broke through about 30 km of the front line in southern Kherson.

Ukrainian forces, pressuring Russian troops on both southern and eastern fronts, have entered Luhansk for the first time since the outbreak of the war. On the 5th, according to CNN, Serhiy Haidai, head of the Ukrainian military-civil administration in Luhansk, appeared on state TV and said, "The Ukrainian military's operation to retake Luhansk has begun," adding, "Many settlements in Luhansk have already been liberated from Russian occupying forces." He further claimed, "Several facilities have been freed, and Ukrainian units have already raised their flag."

This situation has raised concerns about Russia's potential use of nuclear weapons. As the military disadvantage continues, there is growing analysis that President Putin may order the use of nuclear weapons.

U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a strong warning to President Putin, stating that the world is facing the greatest nuclear threat since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Similarly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia has begun preparing for nuclear war. In an interview with the BBC on the 7th, he said regarding the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons, "They have started preparing their society. That is very dangerous."