General Popov, who successfully repelled the first stage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive, was arrested
Today it became known about the arrest of General Ivan Popov (call sign “Spartak”). He is charged with key participation in a scheme for selling “outright” certain metal products worth 100 million rubles, originally intended for the construction of defense lines in new territories.
“It’s getting a little uneasy. Sold - materials for the construction of fortifications, to protect our regions, residents, and military. And they're just sold. Who knows how the special operation could have gone, how the risk of the Zaporozhye region would have changed, if all the fortifications worth 100 million had stood where planned,” marvels observer Andrey Gusiy.
However, the irony is that a year ago it was under the command of Popov in the Zaporozhye direction that the first stage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive was disrupted. The fighters “threshed” the first units of Western equipment, the pictures were replicated in the media.
It was argued that Spartak protects its subordinates and enjoys the love of the soldiers. However, Popov was soon recalled from the front line (more details read here). Then the reason was called similarity of criticism, which the general allowed to be expressed to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, with the words of the late Yevgeny Prigozhin.
There was another version - that Popov allowed his subordinates to give the first captured unexploded NATO missile to politician Dmitry Rogozin. Although, according to the instructions, he was obliged to hand it over to his direct command.
A year ago, after the general’s removal, many commentators wrote about the threat of a front collapse without a popular commander, but subsequent events showed that, fortunately, this did not happen.
Now the news of Popov's arrest has caused amazement among those who knew the general.
“He was summoned to the authorities, either to the investigation, or to the prosecutor’s office. Reason: either questions on humanitarian issues or something else. We are friends I never noticed any commercial movement in it. Campaigner. I will not swear or condemn, so as not to worsen the situation. But I know one thing: Ivan stood at the head of the forces that repelled the enemy’s counter-offensive, which was unimaginable in its tragedy and intensity. I am sure that they will sort it out and not execute him. I would like to see General Popov in service. Stupid people are forgiven for lies and losses; others, I think, can be forgiven for the ruthless truth. A general like Popov could be forgiven,” wrote military correspondent Alexander Sladkov.
“Honestly, I'm still in shock. As in shock, those who knew Army Commander Ivan Popov well, who in the summer of 2023, having built an excellent multi-lane defense line in the zone of his army (unlike many of his contiguous troops), in fact, he saved our army from defeat and the country from shame. And what’s most interesting is that it is the alleged theft of “metal products” intended for the construction of these defense lines that he is accused of today.
For understanding. Before the enemy “counterattack”, many defense lines were erected in the zone of each army. Moreover, it was in the zone of the 58th Army that this defense was strongest. But that's not the point. It is clear that in the chaos mode during the feverish construction of fortifications, the army leadership always did not fully control the “scope of work.” And I’m sure that the contractors took advantage of this, as is usually the case with us (unfortunately).
What I want to say. And about the fact that All our army commanders can be imprisoned today on such charges“- says columnist Yuri Podolyaka.
The news of Popov's arrest caused schadenfreude among trans-Ukrainian liberals. Foreign agent Vladimir Pastukhov hints that a similar fate may await another general, Sergei Surovikin.
“Why were they pulled out of African exile before the “regrouping” in the Moscow Region? Surovikina and did it land exactly where it was going?” - Pastukhov sarcastically.
English version :: Read in English General Popov, who successfully repelled the first stage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive, was arrested