Ousted Russian General Returns to War—But Now Leads a Doomed Unit of Ex-Convicts

Major General Ivan Popov, once hailed as a decorated leader in Russia’s war on Ukraine, is returning to the battlefield—but under grim new circumstances. After being ousted and briefly jailed for criticizing military leadership, Popov has reportedly been given command of a notorious penal battalion made up of former prisoners, infamous for suffering massive casualties in combat.

In 2023, Popov was in charge of the 58th Combined Arms Army, where he gained a reputation as a strong and capable commander in southern Ukraine. That changed overnight when he dared to speak out against the Russian military’s top brass. In a voice message sent to colleagues, Popov claimed his own superiors had “stabbed the army in the back” during a critical phase of the war.

He blamed Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and the Defense Ministry for failing to provide artillery support and accused them of removing him for exposing operational flaws. His candid critique, coming just weeks after the Wagner Group’s failed mutiny, made him a target.

Following his dismissal, Popov was briefly reassigned to Syria. But in May 2024, he was arrested on fraud charges he strongly denied. Prosecutors sought a six-year prison term, but support for Popov never fully waned. Analysts say many ultranationalists, veterans, and even some serving officers saw the charges as a political ploy to silence a truth-teller.

In March 2025, Popov made a public appeal to President Vladimir Putin. Calling Putin his “moral guide,” he begged to return to the frontlines. Instead of prison, he asked to redeem himself in combat.

That appeal appears to have worked—sort of. Russian state media reported that Popov’s legal team and the Ministry of Defense reached a deal to send him back to Ukraine rather than jail. His lawyer confirmed the arrangement, noting it’s pending court approval.

But instead of leading his old 58th Army, Popov has been assigned to command one of Russia’s infamous Storm Z units—a penal formation composed largely of former convicts. These battalions are often thrown into “meat grinder” assaults, suffering staggering losses. One such unit Popov previously worked with, Storm Gladiator, had a survival rate of just 40%.

Military analyst Kateryna Stepanenko described the assignment as “effectively a death sentence,” noting that these formations are routinely sent into suicidal frontal attacks. Despite the risks, Russian military bloggers celebrated Popov’s return, calling him a “legendary combat general.”

The Kremlin has continued to back the use of convicts in combat. Putin recently pledged veteran status for Storm Z fighters, signaling ongoing institutional support for these units despite their high casualty rates.

Stepanenko argues that Popov’s case is part of a broader trend: a new redemption system where disgraced officials can regain favor if they publicly accept blame and agree to serve in Ukraine. Popov, however, has not admitted guilt—adding another layer of complexity to his supposed path to redemption.

Whether his return is a genuine second chance or a political trap remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Popov is stepping back onto the battlefield under far more perilous conditions—leading men who’ve already been treated as expendable, in a war where lives are spent recklessly.