Russia-Ukraine war: Ex-Russian army general detained over fraud charge

Gen Popov was sacked in July 2023 after complaining publicly about Russian military problems in Ukraine.

In a widely-shared voice message, he said: “It was necessary either to keep quiet and be a coward or to say it the way it is.”

“I had no right to lie in the name of you, in the name of my fallen comrades in arms, so I outlined all the problems which exist.”

Among the issues Gen Popov said he had highlighted to his superiors were the lack of proper counter battery systems to help repel Ukrainian artillery attacks, as well as a lack of military intelligence.

The commander said his dismissal was demanded by senior commanders – who he accused of treason – and approved by the then Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu.

Mr Shoigu, President Vladimir Putin’s long-standing ally, was earlier this month replaced by Andrei Belousov – an economist with little military experience.

Analysts say the move reflects the changing priorities of the Kremlin and the huge amounts of money the Russian authorities are now pouring into the war in Ukraine – and Russia’s need to boost efficiency in the armed forces widely seen as plagued by corruption.

In recent months, there had been rumours that Mr Shoigu’s position was growing weaker. His appointment as secretary of Russia’s Security Council is seen by some Russia watchers as demotion.

In April, one of Mr Shoigu deputies – Timur Ivanov – was arrested on corruption charge.

Last week, Gen Yuriy Kuznetsov, a senior defence ministry official, was arrested in a bribery investigation.

Latest reports suggest that Mr Belousov is forming his own team in the defence ministry, getting rid of Mr Shoigu’s cadres.

In other developments on Tuesday: