Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia’s political landscape has become increasingly tense and secretive. Vladimir Putin, known for his tight grip on power, has reportedly grown more suspicious of his inner circle as the war drags on.
The conflict has sparked power struggles and mistrust among the Russian elite, leading to the removal, arrest, or mysterious deaths of several high-ranking officials.
Birthday Cleanout
Today on the presidents birhtday is no different as eight high-ranking Russian generals from various departments, were dismissed from their positions, according to reports from RIA Novosti and Ziare.
The dismissals were confirmed by a source familiar with the situation, although no official reason has been given for their removal.
Among those relieved of their duties are General Igor Ivanov, head of the Investigative Committee for the Stavropol Territory, and General Aleksander Molcianov, deputy director of Operational Management at the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Also included are Lieutenant General Sergei Poletikin, head of the Moscow Region’s Emergency Situations department, and General Vyacheslav Sukhorukov, who led the Investigative Committee in Buryatia.
More Could be Involved
Additional dismissals include Lieutenant General Sergei Filippov from the Rostov Region Emergency Situations Ministry.
Local press offices in Rostov and Moscow confirmed that Filippov and Poletikin were indeed removed from their posts.
While the official reasons for these dismissals have not been disclosed, Russian media and Telegram channels have been speculating about the recent shift in leadership.
One such outlet, the Telegram channel "VChK-OGPU," reported that alongside those named by RIA Novosti, several other high-ranking officials were also affected.
These include Kirill Levita, head of the Investigative Committee for the Voronezh region, and Rostislav Lesnikov, deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Saratov region.
The shifts have fueled speculation that internal disagreements or fears of betrayal are reshaping the Kremlin's power structure, as Putin prioritizes loyalty and control to maintain his rule during the ongoing conflict.
