JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin was forced to fire some of Russia's most experienced and senior military generals, in a sign of rising tensions and internal disharmony over his war tactics.
Russian Army figures have been made scapegoats for the Kremlin's faltering mission as its war tactics in Ukraine have not gone smoothly, according to British intelligence.
Twelve weeks after the Russian leader ordered troops and tanks across the border, his plans to capture key cities and vast territories were behind schedule.
After canceling its attempt to seize Kyiv in March, Russian forces suffered another humiliating blow this month, after their failed attempt to seize Kharkiv.
In an intelligence update issued on Twitter, Britain's Defense Ministry said President Putin's dissatisfaction with the overall progress was evident by his dismissal of military figures.
His actions are likely to have sparked fear among other Russian military personnel who, in a bid to avoid wrongdoing, may be holding back from making major decisions.
"In recent weeks, Russia has sacked senior commanders who were deemed underperformers during the early stages of the invasion of Ukraine," the Defense Ministry said.
"The culture of cover-ups and scapegoating may be prevalent in Russia's military and security system. Many of the officials involved in the invasion of Ukraine may be further disturbed by attempts to avoid personal blame for Russia's operational setbacks."
This may "put further pressure on Russia's centralized command and control model, as officers increasingly seek to defer important decisions to their superiors. It will be difficult for Russia to regain the initiative under these conditions," the Defense Ministry said.
The ministry noted that Lieutenant General Serhiy Kisel, who leads the elite 1st Guards Tank Force, was suspended for his failed mission to capture the eastern city of Kharkiv, which is 40 kilometers from the Russian border.
Vice Admiral Igor Osipov, who commands Russia's Black Sea Fleet, may also be suspended after the sinking of the cruiser Moskva in April, the Defense Ministry said.
The ship has led the Russian Navy's offensive in Ukraine. The sinking of the ship was a major blow to Moscow. The Moskva sank on April 14, after being hit by two Ukrainian anti-ship missiles. Moscow said the ship sank after a fire on board.
Meanwhile, General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense, is likely to survive the dismissal of President Putin's top brass, the Defense Ministry said.
However, the Ministry noted it was unclear whether General Gerasimov 'maintained President Putin's confidence' 12 weeks after the invasion.
Separately, Oleksiy Arestovych, a military intelligence veteran and one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's inner circle, claimed last week that General Gerasimov had been ousted from office.
"They decide whether to give him time to make things right, or not," Arestovych told Russian lawyer and politician Mark Feygin during a discussion on YouTube.
Arestovych also claimed that Lieutenant General Kisel had been arrested and dismissed after the Russian Army's operation in Kharkiv failed.
Western intelligence has repeatedly said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was behind schedule and did not go according to Moscow's plans.
(1/7) In recent weeks, Russia has fired senior commanders who are considered to have performed poorly during the opening stages of its invasion of Ukraine.
— Ministry of Defense (@DefenceHQ) May 19, 2022
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