A Russian general named Major Ivan Popov, who previously criticized the Ministry of Defense, may soon be reinstated to the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Popov was once in command of Russia’s 58th Army but was sidelined, accused of fraud, and detained after criticizing Russian military leadership in 2023. His lawyer and the Ministry of Defense have called for him to lead one of Russia’s detachments of ex-convicts, which have suffered significant casualties in the conflict with Ukraine. Popov published an open letter to President Vladimir Putin requesting his reinstatement to military service in order to suspend his criminal trial.
Rebekah Koffler, a former defense intelligence officer and author of “Putin’s Playbook,” believes that Putin may intervene in Popov’s case to ensure he is deployed to Ukraine. Koffler stated that Putin frequently gets involved in high-profile cases, especially when Western media is involved. She mentioned that Putin could decide to let the legal process proceed and have Popov serve a prison sentence, or he may choose to send him to Ukraine to serve the “Russian motherland” and use his case for propaganda purposes. Popov’s potential assignment to a penal detachment is considered a death sentence due to the high casualty rates among ex-convict forces used by Russian military in Ukraine.
Popov expressed in his letter to Putin that he believes he was unfairly prosecuted and wishes to continue fighting the enemy as he promised in his military oath. His lawyer, Sergei Buinovskiy, mentioned that Popov was grateful for the trust the president has shown in him. Popov’s previous role as commander of the 58th Army overseeing nearly 50,000 troops contrasted with the much smaller size of the detachment he may soon lead, consisting of only a few hundred soldiers. Popov’s popularity among front-line troops increased after successfully repelling a Ukrainian tank counter-attack with NATO assistance and criticizing Russia’s top commanders for not preventing Ukraine’s initial breakthrough.
Despite gaining a following for his actions in the war against Ukraine, Popov was later reassigned to Syria before facing fraud charges that led to his court appearance. He denied any wrongdoing and maintained support from allies in Moscow who shared similar criticisms of Russian military leadership. The potential reinstatement of Popov to the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine could have significant implications for both the ongoing war and internal Russian politics. If Putin decides to intervene and send Popov into battle, it could be used for propaganda purposes or to boost morale among Russian forces. However, the assignment to a penal detachment presents a dangerous and likely lethal outcome for Popov given the high casualty rates of these units in the conflict.
