Putin ‘purges hero paratrooper commander’ amid claim that total Russian casualties are close to 50k 

Ukraine is claiming that Vladimir Putin has purged the chief of his airborne forces over heavy losses in the war, which estimates are starting to put at a symbolically disastrous 50,000.

Colonel-General Andrey Serdyukov, 60, has paid the price of devastating ‘mass casualties’ among paratroopers, it was alleged.

The speculation comes as one Russian source suggested the country’s overall losses in Ukraine are close to 50,000 – significantly higher than most other estimates.

Unconfirmed Ukrainian sources cited by Odessa military-civilian spokesman Serhiy Bratchuk say that Putin has axed Serdyukov and replaced him with Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky, 53, current chief of staff of the Central Military District who was born in the Donetsk region.

Serdyukov was sanctioned by Britain as having Ukrainian blood on his hands in the wake of the Bucha horrors.

If his axing is true this ‘would indicate that Serdyukov is being held responsible for the poor performance of, and high casualties, among Russian [airborne] units, particularly in early operations around Kyiv.

He has reportedly been replaced by Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky, 53, current chief of staff of the Central Military District, who was born in the Donetsk region

The reported sacking would indicate that Serdyukov is being held responsible for the poor performance of, and high casualties, among Russian [airborne] units, particularly in early operations around Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks as he takes part in the opening ceremony of new healthcare facilities in several regions of Russia via a videoconference in St. Petersburg. He is reported to have fired his airborne forces chief, the latest senior commander to face the chop under Putin

Several sources claim that Putin is personally micromanaging war decisions and wielding the axe on commanders he sees as under performing, in this case commanders responsible for losses in early airborne operations around Kyiv

‘Continued dismissals and possible internal purges of senior Russian officers will likely further degrade poor Russian command and control capabilities and the confidence of Russian officers.’

There has been no indication from Moscow that Serdyukov has been ousted. He is a ‘Hero of Russia’ – the country’s highest honour – and is seen as one of the country’s ablest military minds.

Izvestia said he commanded the operation to annex Crimea from Ukraine in the spring of 2014, and he is reported to have participated in the Pristina airport stand-off with NATO peacekeeping forces in 1999 as a 37-year-old, when Russia troops rushed the airport during the Kosovo war that nearly triggered world war three.

Russia has announced very few of the myriad changes Putin has made among commanders during the war which started on 24 February.

But several sources claim that Putin is personally micromanaging war decisions and wielding the axe on commanders he sees as under performing, in this case commanders responsible for losses in early airborne operations around Kyiv.

In the early hours of the nascent war, on February 24, elite troops of the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) launched an assault on Antonov Airport near Kyiv, with the objective of capturing it and using it as a springboard to fly in further troops for an assault against the Ukrainian capital.

The operation did not go to plan, with the Ukrainians counterattacking the initial foothold and surrounding the VDV soldiers who were unsupported by heavy weapons.

These soldiers, some of Putin’s most highly trained, were systematically destroyed by Ukrainian defenders, who operated with greater numbers and far more competence  than the Russians had anticipated. 

A Ukrainian soldier stands before a destroyed hangar at Hostomel Airport, the scene of fierce fighting in the first days of the war which saw elite Russian airborne troops decimated by the Ukrainians

There has been no indication from Moscow that Serdyukov has been ousted – he is a ‘Hero of Russia’ – the country’s highest honour – and is seen as one of the country’s ablest military minds

Telegram channel General SVR alleged that the overall Russian army toll in the Ukraine conflict is now 37,592. Add to this were the alleged losses of 9,457 fighters from private military companies backing the Russian war effort, said the channel

Funeral for an 18-year-old Russian soldier in the Urals, Russia. If correct, the figures would mean overall military losses of 48,837. It contrasts with other figures which suggest Putin has lost in excess of 30,000 troops

A second assault the following day brought fresh airborne troops and ground forces coming from Belarus managed to capture the airport, whose runway had been damaged beyond repair.

Telegram channel General SVR alleged that the overall Russian army toll in the Ukraine conflict is now 37,592.

Add to this were the alleged losses of 9,457 fighters from private military companies backing the Russian war effort, said the channel.

Additionally, the Russian national guard – which reports directly to Putin – has suffered 1,788 losses, it claimed.

The channel said that these figures had been reported directly to Putin, but provided no evidence of this. It was not possible to verify this claim.

If correct, it would mean overall military losses of 48,837. It contrasts with other figures which suggest Putin has lost in excess of 30,000 troops.

As Russian losses have mounted, Putin has been increasingly relying on conscripts to fill the ranks, with locals in occupied Donbas saying their men are being ‘kidnapped’ and forced into service. 

Russian conscripts from separatist areas have complained of being sent to the frontlines with little equipment and rifles that date back 200 years (pictured) 

Conscripts are being thrown into battle against their own countrymen as ‘cannon fodder’ with little equipment, ancient weapons and almost no training, Kyiv’s men said. 

Serhii, a Ukrainian soldier wounded fighting in the Donbas, said locals press-ganged into Russia’s ranks are being sent on ‘suicide missions’ so that Kyiv’s men will shoot at them, exposing their positions to watching drones and nearby artillery guns.

He described separatist fighters who appeared to be ‘high on something’ rushing at Ukrainian positions in front-on attacks without body armour or support from tanks, and being killed ‘like pieces of meat’.

Kyiv has admitted suffering devastating losses of up to 200 men killed every day in Donbas, largely victim to overwhelming Russian artillery barrages, but insists that Moscow’s forces are being similarly decimated.

The losses have seen Putin’s forces lose 54 confirmed colonels in Ukraine – a shocking toll that probably underscores the true scale of losses among these high ranking officers.

Putin has also lost at least 11 generals in his war so far.