By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Colonel General Alexander Lapin has been dismissed from Russian military service, according to reports. Lapin faced criticism due to significant setbacks in 2022, including the collapse of Russian defenses during Ukraine’s Kharkiv counteroffensive. These failures continued into 2024, with Ukrainian incursions into Kursk Oblast, resulting in substantial territorial losses. Following his removal, Lapin is set to become an assistant to the head of Tatarstan.
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Russia’s ‘good-for-nothing’ general reportedly dismissed after Ukraine blunders, and it seems, this was a political move more than a military one. The intention wasn’t necessarily to find someone truly capable, but to find a scapegoat. The regime needed a way to appear to be taking action and holding someone accountable for the numerous setbacks in Ukraine, and who better than a general who was already seen as, shall we say, less than stellar? The logic, or lack thereof, seems to be that this dismissal allows “the system” to distance itself from responsibility.
The inconvenient truth, and a stark realization for those in the Kremlin, is that this general, let’s call him Lapin, actually “worked as intended”. He diligently followed orders, showing unwavering loyalty to the Kremlin, but his incompetence was part of the plan. The truth is that he wasn’t meant to be competent because of the fear that any general capable of achieving meaningful battlefield success could potentially become a focal point for a military coup, which would challenge Putin’s power.
The Kremlin, in its relentless pursuit of power and control, operates under a system where blind loyalty triumphs over competence. Charisma, and the affection it can garner, are viewed with suspicion. Putin doesn’t share power, and that includes the loyalty of the troops. So, a general who inspires love and loyalty would be a liability. This ruthless pursuit of control leads to a situation where even the most blindly loyal are eventually discarded when they fail to deliver.
The situation now raises a terrifying question for anyone in Russia: who’s next? This is a classic move from Putin’s playbook of fear, a strategy designed to maintain control through intimidation. It’s a sign that things aren’t going well, a desperate attempt to regain control over a situation spiraling downwards. When things go wrong, scapegoating becomes the go-to strategy, rather than addressing the underlying causes. It’s a sign of weakness and a lack of confidence.
It is widely agreed that the term “good-for-nothing general” applies to many in the Russian military. The system seems designed to prioritize blind obedience over actual military skill. Putin is surrounded by yes-men, which leads to a dysfunctional and ultimately weak military force. The irony is that fascism, with its emphasis on control and repression, often ends up being populated by weak-willed individuals, and that inherent weakness leads to failure.
There are some who have speculated that Lapin may soon find himself the subject of an unfortunate accident, or perhaps, commit suicide with a few bullets to the back of the head with his hands tied. This is often the fate of those who fall out of favor, a chilling reminder of the cost of failure in Putin’s Russia. The jokes about window-related incidents are not without basis, given the number of high-profile figures who have met their end in such a way.
It’s not just this one general; the entire military structure appears to be suffering. The war in Ukraine is going poorly, and if Russia was winning, it would not be searching for scapegoats. The frantic search for blame is a strong indicator of the pressure the regime is facing. If they were in a strong position, the Kremlin would be pushing forward, not shaking things up.
It’s clear that Russia’s actions in Ukraine are not those of a confident winner. They are the moves of someone under pressure, trying to change the narrative, and prevent the war from being a total failure.
The current situation seems to be a case of history repeating itself, as in the past, many leaders, and their underlings have struggled with internal conflict. In a system of constant cruelty and injustice, people who are not competent are often given leadership positions. The removal of leaders requires a show of weakness.
As stated above, competent generals are a threat. They earn the respect and loyalty of their soldiers, which creates a power base that a dictator cannot tolerate. The most loyal, the most obedient, the most blindly devoted, are preferred over those who may be better at their jobs. This is a recipe for disaster in any organization, but particularly in the military.
The fact is, there is a massive hole in the Russian budget. Preexisting stockpiles of weapons and cash saved up to fight the war are largely gone. Russia has been relying on these stockpiles, and now it’s going to be very difficult to generate a lot of combat power with their current economic situation. While Russia may not suddenly collapse, winning the war requires vast amounts of firepower and manpower. They don’t have the financial resources to achieve the offensive objectives that they had planned on.