Russia has dismissed a Ukraine commander over allegations of inaccurate reporting, according to war bloggers

Russia has dismissed a high-ranking general in Ukraine due to inaccurate reports regarding the war’s progress, as Defence Minister Andrei Belousov seeks to eliminate ineffective commanders, according to pro-Russian war bloggers and Russian media.

As winter approaches, Russian forces have made their fastest advances in Ukraine since the onset of the 2022 invasion, although progress has been significantly slower in certain regions, particularly around Siversk in the eastern Donetsk area.

Unidentified sources cited by Russian media indicated that Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, who led the Southern Grouping, has been relieved of his duties, although this has not been officially confirmed.

Russian war bloggers have frequently criticized the command structure overseeing operations in Siversk, where they reported that inadequately supported Russian units were engaged in perilous confrontations with minimal tactical advantage.

“Only the inattentive failed to address the issues there: it took the system nearly two months to respond appropriately,” stated Rybar, a prominent pro-Russian blogger on Telegram.

“Anashkin was dismissed for providing false reports regarding the Siversk area,” Rybar noted, referring to the Russian name for the location. A war correspondent from Russian state television also confirmed Anashkin’s removal from command.

The Russian Defence Ministry did not provide a response to the inquiry for comment. Reuters, unable to verify the claims, could not contact Anashkin for a statement due to the prevailing security conditions in Russia.

Should Russia gain control of the Siversk region, it could advance towards Kramatorsk, a significant city in the area.

RBC reported, citing an anonymous source from the Defence Ministry, that Anashkin’s relocation was part of a “planned rotation” of personnel.

In his coverage of the command change, noted pro-Russian war blogger Yuri Podolyaka referenced Belousov, who stated, “mistakes can happen, but lying is not acceptable.”