Putin Fires Deputy Defense Chief; Russians Taunt Him To Fight In Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has fired the general charged with managing the Russian military's faltering logistics operations in Ukraine. Gen. Dmitry Bulgakov, a deputy defense minister, was removed from his role on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, the ministry said on Telegram, Matt Murphy reported for BBC.

Photo Insert: The ministry said the 67-year-old Gen. Dmitry Bulgakov was "released" to transfer into a new role and will be replaced by Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev, who managed Moscow's brutal siege at the port city of Mariupol.

The ministry said the 67-year-old was "released" to transfer into a new role. He will be replaced by Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev, who managed Moscow's brutal siege at the port city of Mariupol.

Bulgakov has run the military's logistics operations since 2008 and was responsible for keeping Russian troops supplied after their deployment to Syria in 2015.

But observers say he has become sidelined in Moscow in recent months, with many blaming him for the chaotic logistics operations that have dogged Russia's advance and seen their troops left undersupplied.

In recent months, the Kremlin has been forced to approach North Korea and Iran - two of its only remaining allies - for new artillery and drone supplies. Bulgakov's dismissal comes as footage circulated on social media showing newly drafted Russian recruits being equipped with rusty assault rifles.

Pro-war figures in Russia have welcomed his dismissal and the appointment of Mizintsev - who was sanctioned by the UK for his role commanding the Mariupol siege - will likely be welcomed by hardliners.

Putin's personnel changes come amid reports that the Russian leader has taken personal charge of the war effort and has started issuing orders to generals in Ukraine himself.

But Putin has been taunted by Russians who argued that since he launched the war, he should be fighting in Ukraine and not sitting on his chair in the Kremlin. US officials told CNN that the increasingly "dysfunctional command structure" in Moscow had forced Putin to take a more active role in the war.

Last month, UK defense officials suggested that Mr Putin had side-lined his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu after senior defense officials began to mock the top general's "ineffectual and out-of-touch leadership."

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that Mr. Putin had denied his commanders permission to retreat from the southern city of Kherson, where Ukrainian troops are slowly advancing.

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