General Alexander Dvornikov, also known as the “Butcher of Aleppo” for his ruthlessness while leading Russia’s intervention in the Syrian war, is said to be the latest in a long list of top commanders fired by Russia – suggesting Putin is unhappy with the way the war is working out.
Russia’s defense ministry has not commented on the reported resignation, but it comes after weeks of rumors of the Russian leader’s dissatisfaction with his performance.
Dvornikov, 60, has been in charge of Russian forces in Ukraine since April, but has not been seen in public for more than a month.
Samuel Ramani, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, believes the reason for the general’s resignation, if confirmed, is that it took too long to capture Donbas after he failed to capture Kiev in March.
Meanwhile, Christo Grozev, an investigative reporter for Bellingcat, said in a YouTube video earlier this month: “Dvornikov from Syria within the military was not very high. He knew that his ability to coordinate different types of troops was not very high.
“He drinks too much alcohol and makes decisions in the middle of the night about situations, such as when to go to war, without any intelligence support.”