Vladimir Putin has dramatically dismissed one of his most senior military commanders, Lieutenant General Sukhrob Akhmedov, just a year after personally decorating him with Russia's highest military award.
From Hero to Scapegoat
The 51-year-old officer has been stripped of his position as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy for Coastal and Land Forces. This stunning fall from grace follows intense public criticism over what have been described as some of the most catastrophic and strategically futile Russian losses in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a stark reversal of fortune, Akhmedov was presented with the Hero of Russia medal in 2025, apparently for successes in the Kursk region. Yet by January 2026, he was removed from his post, directly blamed for disastrous tactical failures.
Costly Failures and 'Pointless' Losses
Military analysts and Russian pro-war channels have pinned two particularly bloody incidents on Akhmedov's leadership. The first was a failed marine assault near Pokrovsk in late 2025. Ukrainian forces reportedly decimated the mechanised charge within minutes, leaving a scene of burning tanks and destroyed armoured vehicles, footage of which was later shared by survivors.
An even more damning accusation relates to an incident near Kremenna in June 2023. Soldiers under Akhmedov's command were allegedly ordered to stand in formation in an open area for hours, awaiting a motivational speech from the general. Ukrainian artillery units spotted the gathering and launched a strike, killing dozens of Russian personnel.
The influential Russian Telegram channel Rybar stated: "Akhmedov and company are to blame for the mass deaths of personnel... But given the nepotism... this matter was swept under the rug." For many within the Russian military, the Hero of Russia award has become a symbol of a broken system where loyalty is rewarded over competence, and casualties are ignored.
Wider Struggles and Domestic Fallout
This high-profile sacking occurs as Putin's forces continue to struggle in their campaign, facing heavy losses and increasing attacks on Russian soil. The situation has become so severe in border regions like Belgorod that the local governor has advised residents to prepare to evacuate due to relentless Ukrainian strikes.
Officials report these attacks have left over half a million people without electricity and nearly 200,000 without water and sewerage. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov admitted the region is facing problems "on such a scale" for the first time, with even mobile networks partially collapsing due to power failures.
The dismissal of Sukhrob Akhmedov highlights the deepening internal tensions and search for scapegoats within the Russian military hierarchy as its costly war effort falters.
