The Russians celebrate the return of the "legendary general". But there's a catch

• General Ivan Popov, previously recognized as legendary commander of the Russian army, was removed from service for criticism of the staff and then imprisoned.

• After appeals to Putin and support from friends, Popov is to return to the front in Ukraine as commander of the Storm Z units.

• The media speculates that Pop's return to the front is simply a de facto "death sentence", as its task is to command the units that endure the top losses.

• More crucial information can be found on Interii main page

‘Legenda’ of the Russian armyAnd especially the 58th army he commanded is to return to the front. As CNN reports, General Ivan Popov leaves prisonto command Ukraine again.

We, along with the Ministry of Defence, have a motion to suspend the case... au positive decision to send Ivan Ivanovich to participate in a peculiar military operation (propagandic name of the war in Ukraine – ed.) – said, as quoted by the prokremlian agency TASS, Popów's defender.

CNN points out that there is not yet authoritative confirmation from the Russian military court, However, friends with the commander of the persons study the “return of the legendary general”.

War in Ukraine. Ivan Popov is coming back? He criticized Gierasimov

As American media resembles, General Ivan Popov was a respected commander of the 58th Russian Army. He conducted respective operations during the war in Ukraine, which he besides gained favour among the chief of staff. Until then.

In July 2023 a voice message leaked to the mediaThat Popov sent to his soldiers. He criticized the command of the army at the time, as well as the Ministry of Defence of Russia.

– Ukraine's armed forces couldn't break through our army from the front, but Our command hit us from behind, treacherously – said Popow in the recording. He directed peculiar criticism towards Marshal Walerija Gierasimov and Defence Minister Sergei Szojgu.

– elder commanders They sensed danger in me and quickly, in 1 day, they invented an order for the Minister of Defence, they removed me and got free of me – regretted the general removed from command.

Russia. General Ivan Popov arrested

This was adequate to remove the esteemed commander from activities in Ukraine. Initially, he went to Syria, where he served in the rank of deputy chief of the Russian contingent. However, the revenge of Gierasimov and the Shoygu continued on him. By May 2024.

Then this Ivan Popov was arrested and accused of embezzlement of military money. The general faced a court-martial, where the prosecution demanded a conviction of six years in prison and dismissal from military service.

As it was thought, it did. However, the general had friends who in all way tried to intercede for him in the Ministry of Defence, as well as Vladimir Putin himself.

Popov wrote to Putin. He's going back to the front, there's 1 catch.

In late March 2025 Ivan Popov wrote an open letter to Putin. As CNN recalls, the news content was published in all state media.

In writing, the Russian commander urged the dictator to return him to military service and sent to the front alternatively of jail. As he argued, Putin is for him a “moral compass” and his attitude allowed him to realize that life should be guided by the rule of “cool head, warm heart and clean hands”.

In the end, as the defence lawyer of the relieved commander informed, Popov is to go back to the front as an officer.. But here, too, the man is likely to get revenge on Gierasimov and the Shojgu.

According to the findings of the journalists of Kommiersant Popov will command the forces of the “Storm Z” units in Ukrainewhich have so far suffered the top losses during the armed invasion. According to the media, it is simply a "death sentence" for a general whose soldiers are most frequently sent to the front as "gun meat" to flood Ukrainian defenders with their numbers, regardless of the number of casualties.

According to CNN, The Kremlin did not talk on this matter.. erstwhile asked about this, Dmitry Doskov refused to comment.

However, American journalists emphasize that recently, the Russian military is trying to increase the number of experienced officers on the front in Ukraine, and thus increasingly addresses those who have fallen into disfavor.

– Putin seemingly created a fresh redemption strategy in which disgraced officials and commanders they have a chance to regain mercy on condition that they publically confess, and then volunteer to fight in Ukraine – says Kateryna Stepanenko of the ISW.

Source: CNN