Ridicule for Putin’s war hawks

The fall of Lyman in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, hours after declaring it part of Russian territory, has prompted a level of finger-pointing that threatens President Vladimir Putin’s hold on power


BELARUS 
RUSSIA
Kyiv
Oct 1: Ukrainian troops liberate town of Lyman
DONBAS
UKRAINE
BLACK SEA
160km 100 miles

Territory controlled by Russia
Ukrainian counter-offensives


Vladimir Putin: Public scorn of Putin’s top generals within top levels of Kremlin elite has been taboo until now

Sergei Shoigu: Defence Minister is easy target for ultranationalists. Telegram commentator Igor Girkin-Strelkov has mocked Shoigu as “plywood marshal”

Andrei Gurulyov: Lawmaker and former general said he “could not explain the surrender of Lyman,” accusing military chain of command of “lying” to Putin

Alexander Lapin: General slammed for Lyman defeat by Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechen dictator.
Lapin ran defence from 150km away

Valery Gerasimov: Top military commander and Chief of General Staff criticised for ignoring complaints about Lapin’s conduct of campaign

Yevgeny Prigozhin: Founder of Wagner Group of mercenaries referred to top generals as “jerk-offs” who should be sent to front lines


Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, U.S. News and World Report 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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