 Conflict between Russian Army generals has reached its peak. The conflict between the generals of the Russian Army has reached its peak. The Institute for the Study of War, ISW, said. Former commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, Major General Ivan Popov, claimed in leaked audio that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoygu dismissed him for expressing persistent grievances about problems on the Western Zaporizia oblasts front line to senior commanders, the ISW said. According to the Institute, Popov's portrayal of himself as a rebellion leader with grievances against the Ministry of Defence, whether intentionally or otherwise, is notably reminiscent of the self-portrayal and rhetoric of Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozin leading up to and during his June 24th armed rebellion. Popov likely attempted to appeal to the Kremlin to partially or fully strip Gerassimov of command over operations in Ukraine. Many military bloggers argued that Popov's dismissal eroded troop morale at a time of relentless Ukrainian attacks. One blogger, Vladislav Shorygin, said it has dealt a terrible blow to the entire army while another, Roman Sapankov, described it as a monstrous terror attack against the army's morale. In a sign that many in Russian officialdom share Popov's criticism of the military leadership, Andrei Turchak, the first deputy speaker of the Upper House of Parliament and head of the main Kremlin party United Russia, strongly backed the general saying that the motherland can be proud of such commanders. Andrei Kartapolov, a retired general who heads the Defense Affairs Committee in the Lower House, also said the Defense Ministry should deal with the issues raised by Popov.