Ivan Popov (major general)
{{Short description|Russian army general (born 1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Popov|lang=Russian}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Ivan Ivanovich Popov
| image = Попов Иван Иванович 2022.jpg
| caption = Popov after his 2022 promotion to major general
| birth_date = {{birthdateandage|1975|01|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Danilovsky District, Volgograd Oblast, Soviet Union
| allegiance = {{flag|Russia}}
| branch = {{army|Russia}}
| serviceyears = 1992–2023
| rank = Major general
| nickname = Spartak (Spartacus)
| commands = {{plainlist|
}}
| battles = {{tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
}}
Ivan Ivanovich Popov ({{Langx|ru|Иван Иванович Попов}}; born 30 January 1975) is a former Russian Ground Forces major general who commanded the 58th Combined Arms Army until he was dismissed in July 2023.
Early life and education
Popov was born on 30 January 1975 in a small farming khutor in the Don steppes,{{Cite web |title=Попов Иван Иванович |url=https://russian-torturers.com/ru/profile/1632 |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=russian-torturers.com |language=ru}} part of Danilovsky District, Volgograd Oblast.{{Cite web |title=В зону СВО в субботу отправится очередная партия гуманитарной помощи от жителей Даниловского района |url=https://danilovskie-vesti.ru/news/media/2023/3/9/v-zonu-svo-v-subbotu-otpravitsya-ocherednaya-partiya-gumanitarnoj-pomoschi-ot-zhitelej-danilovskogo-rajona/ |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=danilovskie-vesti.ru |language=ru}} In his youth Popov aspired to follow in his father's footsteps as a border guard, seeking to enter the Alma-Ata Higher Border Command School, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union Popov applied to and was accepted to the Moscow Higher Military Command School in 1992.
Military career
His first assignment after graduation as a platoon commander was to the 56th Air Assault Regiment of the North Caucasus Military District. With the 56th, Popov took part in the Second Chechen War. Popov graduated from the Combined Arms Academy and was posted to the operational directorate of the North Caucasus Military District headquarters, taking part in the Russo-Georgian War. Popov subsequently served at the National Defense Management Center. Graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 2015, he was appointed commander of the 33rd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (Mountain) in Adygea in December of that year.{{Cite web |date=30 December 2015 |title=Назначен новый командир 33-й отдельной мотострелковой бригады |url=https://www.yuga.ru/news/387488/ |access-date=12 July 2023 |website=Юга.ру |language=ru}}{{Cite web |date=26 January 2016 |title=Кого назначили новым командиром майкопской бригады? |url=https://adigea.aif.ru/dontknows/kogo_naznachili_novym_komandirom_maykopskoy_brigady |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=AiF |language=ru}}
By 2017 he commanded the 20th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade of the Southern Military District at Volgograd.{{Cite news |last=Borodin |first=Yury |date=5 September 2017 |title=Почётно и ответственно |language=ru |work=Krasnaya Zvezda |url=http://archive.redstar.ru/index.php/siriya/item/34333-pochjotno-i-otvetstvenno}} With a reputation as one of the fastest rising brigade commanders in the Russian Ground Forces, Popov's performance in exercises was noticed by his superiors. In September 2017 Popov left the brigade for promotion, and it was rumored that he would become deputy commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army.{{Cite web |date=18 September 2017 |title=Волгоградский гарнизон остается кузницей генеральских кадров |url=https://www.ng.ru/regions/2017-09-18/100_170918forge.html |website=Nezavisimaya Gazeta |language=ru}}
By May 2018, he was chief of staff of the 22nd Army Corps in Crimea,{{Cite web |date=9 May 2018 |title=В Военном параде приняли участие офицеры, военнослужащие и юнармейцы |url=https://kianews24.ru/news/v-voennom-parade-prinyali-uchastie-ofic/ |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=Крымское информационное агентство |language=ru-RU}} and still held this position in May 2019.{{Cite web |title=Память о Великой Победе – это часть нашей души! - Владимир Константинов |url=http://crimea.gov.ru/news/09_05_2019_3 |access-date=12 July 2023 |website=crimea.gov.ru}}
=Russian invasion of Ukraine=
By May 2022, Popov was chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps in Kaliningrad Oblast.{{Cite web |date=9 May 2022 |title=В городе Гусев Калининградской области состоялся военный парад с участием военнослужащих армейского корпуса Балтийского флота |url=https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id%3D12420632@egNews |publisher=Russian Ministry of Defense}} He commanded the Russian forces in the Balakliia area by June, conducting a chaotic retreat during the Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive in September.{{Cite news |date=26 October 2022 |title=Abandoned Russian base holds secrets of retreat in Ukraine |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/ukraine-crisis-russia-base/ |access-date=11 July 2023}} Despite the Russian defeat, Popov was promoted to major general and commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, responsible for the Zaporizhzhia sector, by March 2023. He announced the defeat of Ukrainian attacks in the Zaporizhzhia sector during the Ukrainian counteroffensive on 8 June.{{Cite web |date=8 June 2023 |title=Командующий 58-й армией РФ рассказал подробности наступления ВСУ на запорожском направлении |url=https://iz.ru/1525644/2023-06-08/komanduiushchii-58-i-armiei-rf-rasskazal-podrobnosti-nastupleniia-vsu-na-zaporozhskom-napravlenii |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=Известия |language=ru}} However, on 11 July milblogger Telegram channel VChK-OGPU reported that Popov had been relieved of command for requesting the rotation of units out of the frontline.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2023 |title=Источник ВЧК-ОГПУ рассказал о том, что, несмотря на изоляцию Суровикина... |url=https://t.me/vchkogpu/39871 |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=VChK-OGPU Telegram channel |language=ru}} On the next day, State Duma deputy Andrey Gurulyov published a message from Popov explaining the reasons for his dismissal.{{Cite web |date=13 July 2023 |title=Депутат опубликовал заявление командующего 58-й армией об отстранении |url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/13/07/2023/64af0ab19a7947aa682eda9c |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=РБК |language=ru}}
Popov declared that Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov dismissed him over his concerns for troops fighting without rest and criticism of Russian battlefield strategy.{{cite news |title=Russian general says top military brass betrayed soldiers fighting in Ukraine |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-general-dismissed-after-accusing-top-brass-failing-soldiers-2023-07-13/ |work=Reuters |date=13 July 2023}}{{cite news |title=Russian general in Ukraine removed for strategy criticism: Report |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/13/russia-general-in-ukraine-removed-over-strategy-criticism-report |work=Al Jazeera |date=13 July 2023}} In response to Popov's criticisms, Gerasimov accused him of "engaging disinformation in panic."{{Cite web |title=Командующего 58-й армией Ивана Попова отстранили за критику Минобороны РФ. Вот что он сказал своим подчиненным Полная расшифровка |url=https://meduza.io/feature/2023/07/13/komanduyuschego-58-y-armiey-ivana-popova-otstranili-za-kritiku-minoborony-rf-vot-chto-on-skazal-svoim-podchinennym |access-date=13 July 2023 |website=Meduza |language=ru}} Popov indirectly accused Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of betraying Russian soldiers on the battlefield by failing to provide sufficient support and raised questions about "the lack of counter-battery fire, the absence of artillery radars and the mass deaths and injuries of our brothers from enemy artillery."{{cite news |title=Russian general in Ukraine says he was fired after accusing defense minister of treachery |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/12/europe/russian-general-treachery-accusations-ukraine-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN |date=12 July 2023}}{{cite news |title=Russian general says he was fired after criticizing military leadership, accuses Shoigu of treason |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ivan-popov-russia-military-general-sergei-shoigu-treason-ukraine-war/ |work=Politico |date=13 July 2023}} Popov finished his message by exhorting his soldiers to continue the fight to defeat the Ukrainian counteroffensive "in the name of the blood spilled by soldiers and officers." State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Andrey Kartapolov responded to Popov's message with the statement that Popov's criticisms would be taken seriously and acted upon.{{Cite news |date=13 July 2023 |title=Картаполов прокомментировал отстранение генерал-майора Попова после доклада о проблемах в армии |language=ru |work=Коммерсантъ |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6098125 |access-date=13 July 2023}}
=Arrest=
Popov was arrested on 17 May 2024 on fraud charges.{{Cite web |date=21 May 2024 |title=Бывший командующий 58-й армией Иван Попов арестован по делу о мошенничестве |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/6713794 |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=Коммерсантъ |language=ru}} The 235th Garrison Military Court was reported to be taking up the case against Popov, who holds the rank of Major General. There was no comment from the Russian Defense Ministry or Russian law enforcement agencies about the reported arrest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/05/21/russian-army-general-arrested-on-fraud-charges-reports-a85185|title=Russian Army General Arrested on Fraud Charges – Reports|date=21 May 2024|website=The Moscow Times}} On 15 July, the military court allowed Popov to serve his pre-trial detention at home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/07/15/russia-grants-house-arrest-to-general-on-fraud-charge-a85721 |title=Russia Grants House Arrest to General on Fraud Charge |date=15 July 2024|website=The Moscow Times}} In April 2025 he was sentenced to five years in prison.{{cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/24/military-court-jails-ex-general-ivan-popov-5-years-over-fraud-allegations-a88857|title=Military Court Jails Ex-General Ivan Popov 5 Years Over Fraud Allegations|date=2025-04-24|publisher=The Moscow Times|accessdate=2025-04-24}}
References
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{{Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Popov, Ivan}}
Category:20th-century Russian military personnel
Category:21st-century Russian military personnel
Category:People from Volgograd Oblast
Category:Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of Russia alumni
Category:Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia alumni
Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class
Category:Recipients of the Medal of Zhukov
Category:Recipients of the Order of Courage (Russia)
Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Russia)
Category:Inmates of Lefortovo Prison
Category:Military personnel of the Russo-Georgian War
Category:Russian major generals
Category:Russian military personnel of the Russian invasion of Ukraine