Russian President Vladimir Putin has fired military commanders who have “performed poorly” during his country’s conflict with Ukraine, according to the UK Ministry of Defense in an update Thursday.
“In recent weeks, Russia has fired senior commanders who are considered to have performed poorly during the opening stages of its invasion of Ukraine,” the Defense Ministry wrote in a Twitter post. “A culture of cover-ups and scape-goating is probably prevalent within the Russian military and security system.”
Russia has not issued a public comment on the allegation. It’s not clear where the ministry obtained its information.
Two generals were named by the ministry, although in its post it suggested that others may have been relieved in recent days as well. Lt. Gen. Serhiy Kisel, who commanded Russia’s 1st Guards Tank Army, was fired for not being able to capture Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine located near the Russian border, and Vice Adm. Igor Osipov, was possibly fired after Russia’s Moskva ship sunk in the Black Sea last month, according to the UK….