Russia general 'sacked by Putin for faking success stories in Ukraine'

A general in Russia has been fired after he was accused of faking reports of battleground successes in Ukraine.  

Colonel General Gennady Anashkin had been the commander of the Russian Army's 'Southern Group' which is fighting in eastern Ukraine.

A Russian military blogging channel, Military Informant, has claimed that 'false reports about supposedly deep successful breakthroughs' started to come from Siversk close to where Anashkin's soldiers are fighting Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, the pro-Putin Telegram channel Rybar claimed that Anashkin had uncessceraily killed hundreds of men after he sent them to the frontline poorly prepared and ill-equipped for the battle.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the Kremlin or the Russian Army were yet to comment on the alleged sacking. 

State media has reported that a source in the ministry of defence acknowledged his dismissal but claimed that it was due to a 'planned rotation'. 

Nevertheless, Russian bloggers have welcomed the removal claiming it could lead to improvements in military operations and place more value on the lives of soldiers.

Anashkin was only appointed commander of the Russian Army’s Southern Group in May. 

For his role in leading airborne units during Russia's war with Georgia in 2008, he was made a Hero of Russia, the highest honorary title in the country. 

His alleged sacking comes after a top Russian general was allegedly killed by British Storm Shadow missiles on November 20. 

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The strike launched by Ukraine wiped out Lt-Gen Valery Solodchuk along with 500 North Korean soldiers. 

It also resulted in 18 Putin officers being reported lost and a further 18 wounded it has been claimed.

This was the first time UK Storm Shadow missiles had been used blast targets deep inside Russia.

It is understood that the pinpoint missiles had hit a Putin command post and military facility with the scale of Russian losses now alleged to be enormous.

Russian authorities have not yet confirmed losses which would be grievous to both Russia and North Korea if confirmed, and the reports are yet to be independently verified.

The Storm Shadows were targeted on November 20 at an underground military facility in Maryino on a Tsarist estate, in Kursk region.