Putin Dismisses General Lapin Over Ukraine Campaign Failures

Russian Colonel General Alexander Lapin has been dismissed from military service following a series of significant battlefield setbacks during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Despite being a decorated general and recipient of the Hero of Russia award, Lapin faced widespread criticism for failures including the loss of key territories such as Lyman and setbacks in the Sumy and Kursk regions, with analysts and figures like Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov labeling him incompetent. Lapin commanded forces in the Central Military District and the "Center" military group early in the war, experiencing defeats in Kyiv and eastern Ukraine, and later led the Leningrad Military District and the "North" group responsible for sectors including Kharkiv and Kursk. His failures included allowing Ukraine to advance into Russian territory during the 2024 counteroffensive, which was only repelled after significant Russian and North Korean troop involvement. Lapin has been replaced by Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov and reassigned to a non-combat role as assistant to the head of Tatarstan, focusing on the welfare and rehabilitation of soldiers and their families. This dismissal is seen as part of Kremlin efforts to scapegoat high-ranking officials in light of ongoing military difficulties in Ukraine.