RUSSIAN military chiefs have removed several generals from key roles as their advance stalls.
The move comes after Ukrainian forces were told to withdraw from the south-eastern city of Severodonetsk to regroup and limit casualties.
Defence Intelligence, part of the MoD, said Gen-Col Andrei Serdyukov is likely out as Airborne Forces commander.
Also gone is Alexandr Dvornikov, commander Southern Group of Forces General of the Army.
He could be replaced by Sergei Surovikin — dogged by corruption and brutality claims in his 30-year career.
Defence Intelligence said: “Since the start of June, the Russian high command has highly likely removed several Generals from key operational command roles.”
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This comes amid fears Vladimir Putin may be purging his inner circle after four recent “suicides” of gas industry executives linked to the tyrant.
In April, the suicides were labelled “suspicious” by Russian sources including a former FSB colonel on the Telegram messaging channel.
On February 25, the day after the Ukraine war started, the body of Alexander Tyulakov, 61, a senior Gazprom financial and security official at deputy general director level, was discovered by his lover.
His neck was in a noose in his £500,000 home.
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