Vladimir Putin's top general is sacked and then goes 'missing': Here's what we know the mysterious situation

Colonel-General Alexander Pavlovich Lapin was in charge of Russia’s campaign in eastern Ukraine and reportedly was recently fired for surrendering the strategic town of ‘Lyman’, The Sun reports.

Decorated but highly criticised

Colonel-General Lapin has been a high-ranking official of the Russian army since 2017. Some of his past work included heavy lifting in Syria and he has reportedly been instrumental in devising Russia’s campaign in Ukraine.

Over the summer of 2022, Vladimir Putinhonoured Lapin by awarding him the title of 'Hero of Russia', Meduza reports.

Recently Lapin was responsible for Russia’s campaign in easternUkraine, and he has allegedly been fired after surrendering key territories including the strategic town of ‘Lyman’.

A number of high-profile Russian military leaders and Putinallies have publicly criticised Lapin. This month alone, the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov called out twice the commander-general as ‘untalented’ for his shortcomings on the battlefield. He said, as quoted by Meduza:

‘It’s not shameful that Lapin is talentless. It’s that he’s protected from above by leaders on the General Staff. If it were up to me, I’d demote Lapin to a private, strip his awards, and send him to the front with a gun in his hands so he could wash away his disgrace with blood.’

From a fake report to unknown whereabouts

Earlier a report by the Ukrainian medium Channel24 claimed General Lapinhad not only been fired but his dead body had been found near the Moskva river in Moscow, however, the news was then recalled as not true.

This comes after Vladimir Putin is reportedly 'cleaning' the Russian Army of those who were in charge of humiliating defeats in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry has tried to put an end to the speculations about the whereabouts of the general by claiming that he is in away on holiday.

‘At the beginning of next week, he will fly to the hospital, heal, then rest for another week and return to duty.’

According to The Sun, General Lapin was criticised also by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the ‘Wagner mercenary group’.

Sources used:

-The Sun: ‘PURGED Mystery as Russian general sacked for Ukraine ‘surrender’ & ‘false’ reports claim he was found dead in river hours later’

-Meduza: ‘Alexander Lapin, the decorated general Kadyrov blames for Russia’s retreat in Ukraine What we know about Lapin and his troops’

-Channel24: ‘Information about the death of General Lapin, who commanded the occupiers in the East, turned out to be a fake’