Russian President Vladimir Putin may appoint Colonel General Alexander Lapin to be commander of his Leningrad Military District, which runs along NATO's northeastern border, according to reports.
The development was reported by Russian publication Ura.ru, citing an unnamed source in Russia's "military circles". St. Petersburg outlet Fontanka reported that he is considered the most likely candidate for the post of commander of the Leningrad Military District, but said he hasn't yet been officially appointed. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment by email.
After Putin in February signed new military decrees re-establishing the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts, a U.S.-based think tank assessed that the move indicated he is preparing for a potential large-scale war with NATO in the future.
The Leningrad Military District, stationed close to NATO member Finland and the Baltic States, is a key component of the Russian armed forces that oversees parts of the nation's defense strategy in Russia's western region. Finland shares an 800-mile border with Russia.
Lapin served as the commander of Russia's Central Military District until October 2022 and was appointed chief of staff of the country's ground forces in January 2023.
He made headlines for being harshly criticized by key Russian figures in the war, including Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Yevgeny Prigozhin—the late founder of the mercenary outfit the Wagner Group—for military setbacks Russia had suffered in Ukraine.
In November 2022, Kadyrov called for immediate "tactical and personnel changes." He also called Lapin "incompetent" after Russian troops retreated from Lyman in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in October 2022. Kadyrov accused him of being "covered from above by the leadership of the General Staff."
The Chechen leader also alleged that the general wasn't in the city of Lysychansk when it was seized by his troops—an "achievement" which prompted Putin to award him the title of Hero of Russia on July 4, 2022.
Days later, a pro-Kremlin media outlet reported that Lapin had been fired.
In February, Putin signed a decree formally re-establishing the Leningrad Military District and the Moscow Military District, with the Leningrad Military District taking over most of the territory previously under Russia's Northern Fleet and the Moscow Military District taking over most of the territory previously under the Western Military District.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank assessed at the time that the re-creation of the Moscow Military District and Leningrad Military District "supports the parallel objectives of consolidating control over Russian operations in Ukraine in the short-to-medium term and preparing for a potential future large-scale conventional war against NATO in the long term."
Do you have a tip on a world news story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Russia-Ukraine war? Let us know via worldnews@newsweek.com.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
