Putin SACKS top military official as Russian in-fighting leaves Kremlin in chaos

A top military official in Putin’s war with Ukraine has been dismissed from his position as “continued divisions” within Russia’s operation emerge.

General Colonel Mikhail Teplinksy was seen as one of Moscow’s key commanders in Ukraine, but according to the uk Ministry of Defence (MoD) he has “likely been dismissed” as the result of a power struggle within the Russian authorities.

A tweet shared by the MoD said: “General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky has likely been dismissed as one of Russia’s key operational commanders in Ukraine.

"Teplinsky was the officer on the ground in charge of Russia’s relatively successful withdrawal from west of the Dnipro in November 2022, and he has received praise in Russia as a capable and pragmatic commander.

“It remains unclear whether Teplinsky still retains his additional remit as head of the VDV, Russia’s airborne forces.

"There is a realistic possibility that debate over the tasks VDV has been given has contributed to his dismissal: VDV has often been employed in ground holding roles traditionally given to the mechanised infantry.”

The statement continued: “Teplinksy’s dismissal is likely another symptom of continued divisions within the senior hierarchy of Russia’s operation as General Valery Gerasimov attempts to impose his personal authority on the campaign.”

On Monday, the new general in charge of Russia's military operations in Ukraine used his first public comments to warn that modern Russia had never seen such "intensity of military hostilities", forcing it to carry out offensive operations to stabilise the situation.

Niall Carson

Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said personnel changes were being carried out at senior and lower levels following the most high-profile graft allegations since Russia's invasion that threaten to dampen Western enthusiasm for his government.

Zelenskyy, who did not identify the officials to be replaced, said part of the crackdown would involve toughening oversight on travelling abroad for official assignments.

A top ally of Zelenskyy said corrupt officials would be "actively" jailed, setting out a zero-tolerance approach.