Russia has reportedly fired a senior commander over false claims regarding the progress of the war in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian military bloggers reported Sunday (Nov. 24) that Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, the commander of the South Forces Group, was sacked after he provided misleading information regarding Russia’s position in the Siversk settlement in the eastern region of Donetsk. Russia-based outlet RBC also reported the development, citing military sources.
Ukrainian military bloggers claimed that Anashkin falsely boasted to his seniors about capturing several settlements. Rybar, one of the most prominent Russian military blogs, reported on Telegram how many such victories became “synonymous with lies and unjustified losses.”
“Only the lazy did not write about the problems there: in general, it took the system about two months to respond to it properly,” Rybar said, claiming Russian authorities were too late to respond to Anashkin’s alleged fraudulent activities.
Other bloggers claimed that the slew of distorted information coming from their own commanders cost Russia dearly, leading to heavy personnel losses in some areas.
According to the Ukrainian army chief, his troopers are facing “one of the most powerful Russian offensives” since the start of the war on the frontlines. However, Kyiv-leaning bloggers have claimed the westward advance of Russian troops has considerably slowed down over the past few weeks.
Russia’s new law to woo recruits
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law offering debt relief to new army recruits.
The new law says that recruits signing up for a one-year contract in the military can avail a debt relief of up to 10 million rubles ($96,000).
Russia is hoping to boost its presence in conflict zones inside Ukraine as it grapples with a shortage of fighting men, as claimed by western media sources. Russia also wants to avoid issuing any new mobilisation order, as a previous such order issued in September 2022 sparked an exodus of thousands of Russian men.
The Financial Times earlier reported that Russia has also recruited hundreds of fighters from Yemen to fight in Ukraine. In return, Moscow is believed to have offered the fighters a high salary and Russian citizenship.
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos.