One of Russia’s top military commanders, Major-General Alexander Lapin, will be taking a three-week holiday, following heavy criticism over the performance of his troops in Ukraine, according to Russian media.
Maj Gen Lapin has been the subject of rare public criticism by two close and increasingly vocal allies of President Vladimir Putin: Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private military group, who have both sent units to Ukraine to bolster the efforts of the regular army.
Mr Kadyrov said a month ago, after Russian forces were driven out of the strategic logistics hub of Lyman in eastern Ukraine, that Maj Gen Lapin should be stripped of his medals and sent to the front with a gun to wash away his shame with blood.
Now, both regional news agency Ura.ru and Russian newspaper Kommersant have reported that Major-General Alexander Linkov will step in to lead the Central Military District – one of five military districts in the country.
Russia has made sweeping changes to its military leadership in the last two months as Ukrainian forces have reclaimed thousands of square miles in the north-east, east and south from Russian occupation.