Vladimir Putin’s ‘top Ukrainian military commander fired amid Russian hierarchy divisions’

Vladimir Putin’s new military chief has fired one of his top commanders in Ukraine, British defence chiefs said.

In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky was dismissed amid “continued divisions within the senior hierarchy” of Russia’s military operation.

Mr Teplinsky was a respected commander who had presided over the successful withdrawal from the west of Dnipro last November.

The decision comes after General Valery Gerasimov was put in charge of Russian forces on January 11.

The MoD wrote: “General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky has likely been dismissed as one of Russia’s key operational commanders in Ukraine.

“Teplinsky was the officer on the ground in charge of Russia’s relatively successful withdrawal from west of the Dnipro in November 2022, and he has received praise in Russia as a capable and pragmatic commander.”

They added: “Teplinsky’s dismissal is likely another symptom of continued divisions within the senior hierarchy of Russia’s operation as General Valery Gerasimov attempts to impose his personal authority on the campaign.”

It follows reports Mr Gerasimov has seen a collapse in support just 12 days into the job after soldiers bristled at “farcical” rules ordering them to shave.

The MoD said Mr Gerasimov had been attempting to clamp down on nonregulation uniform, travel in civilian vehicles, use of mobile phones and non-standard haircuts.

The measures have been met with “sceptical feedback” and some of the “greatest derision” has been reserved for Mr Gerasimov’s attempts to ban beards, according to the MoD’s intelligence briefing on Monday.

Officials in the Donetsk People’s Republic have described the prioritisation as a “farce” that would “hamper the process of destroying the enemy”.

Wagner mercenaries’ boss Yevgeny Prigozhin criticised Gerasimov’s leadership and said “war is the time of the active and courageous, and not of the clean-shaven”.

The MoD said the orders will “likely confirm the fears of his many sceptics in Russia” amid heavy casualties and operational deadlock.