Russian General Alexander Lapin Dismissed From Military Service
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Russian General Alexander Lapin Dismissed From Military Service – Reports
Colonel General Alexander Lapin will take a civilian role as an aide to the head of Tatarstan. He is expected to oversee army recruitment, veteran rehabilitation and support for the families of military personnel. Lapin has long been a controversial figure within Russia’s military ranks.
Sources told the news agency Tatar-Inform that Colonel General Alexander Lapin will take a civilian role as an aide to the head of the republic of Tatarstan, where he was born. In that post, he is expected to oversee army recruitment, veteran rehabilitation and support for the families of military personnel.
The RBC news outlet, citing its own sources, also reported that Lapin was sacked. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the reports.
Lapin has long been a controversial figure within Russia’s military ranks. He commanded the Central Military District from 2017 until October 2022, when he was reportedly removed after Ukraine retook the eastern city of Lyman. The retreat prompted fierce criticism from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late head of the Wagner mercenary group.
In 2023, Lapin was reassigned as chief of staff of Russia’s ground forces. This summer, he was replaced as commander of the “North” grouping of troops, which Moscow created in early 2024 after Ukrainian forces staged a surprise offensive in the Kursk region.
Pro-war bloggers claimed last month that Lapin had resigned for health reasons.
General who took command of Russian troops at start of invasion in Ukraine dismissed from military service
Russian Colonel General Alexander Lapin has been dismissed from military service. Earlier, Lapin had been replaced as commander of the Leningrad Military District by Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov. Lapin will be appointed assistant to the head of Tatarstan, where he will be responsible for working with participants of the war against Ukraine and their families.
Source: RBC (RosBusinessConsulting), citing a source familiar with the personnel decision
Details: Earlier, Lapin had been replaced as commander of the Leningrad Military District by Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov.
According to RBC, Lapin will be appointed assistant to the head of Tatarstan, where he will be responsible for working with participants of the war against Ukraine and their families, as well as for social and medical rehabilitation and reintegration of soldiers after their return.
Advertisement Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement
Alexander Lapin was born in 1964 in Kazan. In 2017, he served as chief of staff of the Russian military grouping in Syria, later heading the Central Military District of the Russian Armed Forces. In 2022, Lapin commanded the Tsentr (Centre) group of forces in the war against Ukraine. After the retreat of Russian troops from the town of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast, he was sharply criticised by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Lapin later served in the Russian ground forces command, then headed the Leningrad Military District and the Sever (North) group of forces. On this front, Russian troops fought for the city of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, held the line along the border, conducted operations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast and created a so-called “buffer zone” in Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts.
Background: In August 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov had become the new commander of the Sever (North) group of forces.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!