General Ivan Popov was awarded a medal in Zaporizhzhia

Former commander of the 58th Army of the Russian Armed Forces, General Ivan Popov, has been awarded a new honor. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

He was awarded a first-class order for his services in the Russian-controlled area of the Zaporijjya region. This decision was officially confirmed on July 24 by the region's "governor," Yevgeny Balitskiy.

According to reports, Popov received this order for bravery, professionalism, and fulfilling his duty. In the summer of 2023, he actively participated in repelling the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporijjya direction.

Additionally, three other commanders – Colonel-General Oleksandr Romanchuk, Colonel-General Denis Lyamin, and Lieutenant-General Sergey Nirkov – were also awarded. Interestingly, in July 2023, General Popov was dismissed from his position after openly speaking about problems in the Russian army during an address to his soldiers and criticizing the leadership of the Ministry of Defense.

Lieutenant-General Denis Lyamin was appointed in his place. Furthermore, in May 2024, General Popov was arrested on suspicion of large-scale fraud.

According to investigative authorities, he was involved in the embezzlement of over 1,700 tons of metal products worth more than 130 million rubles, purchased for defense infrastructure by the Russian-appointed administration of the Zaporijjya region in 2023. The fate of General Ivan Popov, his award, and the ongoing investigations against him are causing widespread discussions within the Russian military system.

This situation is generating significant interest among experts and the public.