Monday, October 3, 2022

Another head rolls -- but not 'General' Putin's

As Russia contends with disastrous setbacks in the Ukraine war, another top commander was ousted by Dictator Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, a Russian news outlet reports.

The Ukraine "special military operation" has seen many of Putin's generals killed or cashiered.

The dictator has been micromanaging the battlefield from Moscow, according to various reports, though it his generals who are unceremoniously booted when crisis hits. The dictator is shielded from accountability by an iron curtain of official and media silence, though that curtain sometimes parts, showing who is really responsible for the disastrous Ukraine operation.

Alert reporters for Russia's RBC news site unearthed that the title of commander of the Western Military District, as of Oct. 2, no longer belongs to Col. Gen. Alexander Zhuravlev, a Putin-designated "hero of Russia." Though Russia's defense ministry web site still lists Zhuravlev as western district commander, Lt. Gen. Roman Berdnikov has taken the reins of the western district, RBC news reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.  

Zhuravlev became head of the forces of the western district in the fall of 2018. In the same year, by decree of Putin, he was awarded the title of Hero of Russia. During his service, the career soldier also received other state awards, including for the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.

In May, Zhuravlev presented awards to military personnel for displaying courage and heroism during the "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Berdnikov, Zhuralev's replacement, has  commanded the combined arms formation of the Eastern Military District and led Russian troops in Syria.
Kirill Sokolov and Petr Kanaev broke this story.

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