The Kremlin does not consider it its agenda to remove the commander of the 58th Army

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin does not consider the situation with the resignation of the commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, Major General Ivan Popov, a matter of their agenda. For comments, he recommended contacting the Ministry of Defense.

“We don’t comment. After all, we are talking about the military, the Ministry of Defense, so we recommend that you contact them for comments, ”Peskov said during the conference call. “We don’t think it’s on our agenda,” he added.

The head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrei Kartapolov (United Russia), reacted to the statement by the commander of the 58th Army of the Southern Military District, Major General Ivan Popov, about his removal from service after a report on problems in the army. The deputy believes that his words were heard and that measures will be taken.

The removal of Ivan Popov became known on July 12, when his audio message published State Duma deputy and ex-deputy commander of the Southern Military District Andrey Gurulev (United Russia). In this message, Mr. Popov said that he was removed from command because of a report on problems on the Zaporozhye front. First Vice Speaker of the Federation Council, Secretary of the General Council of United Russia Andrey Turchak declaredthat the appeal of the major general was non-public, and Mr. Gurulev made a “political show” out of it. At the same time, Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, said that the general’s words were heard and measures would be taken in the army.