Russian Colonel General Lapin Dismissed Following Military Defeats, Reassigned in Tatarstan

Colonel General Alexander Lapin, a high-ranking Russian military officer known for his leadership roles in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and previous command in Syria, has been dismissed from military service. Lapin faced significant criticism for failures in key battles such as Lyman and was accused by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov of retreating troops during the conflict. Following his dismissal, Lapin has been appointed as an assistant to the head of Tatarstan, where he will focus on supporting veterans, their families, and facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. He was replaced as commander of the Leningrad Military District and the Northern Group of Forces by Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov. Lapin's military career included commanding the Central Military District and the 'Center' group in the war against Ukraine, as well as being chief of staff of the Russian Ground Forces. His dismissal is linked to a series of high-profile operational failures and reportedly poor health, and he is currently under international sanctions for his role in the war.