Massacre of soldiers ignites controversy on Russian telegram

News of the death of 76 soldiers, who were deployed in the Kherson region and subsequently eliminated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, has stirred controversy among Russian independent commentators and media outlets. The soldiers were part of a unit commanded by General Mikhail Teplinsky. They were deployed in a move labeled as an attempt to "mislead Ukrainian forces."

General Mikhail Teplinsky, leading the Russian airborne troops and serving as chief of the operational group "Dnieper" in Ukraine, knowingly sent his men into a highly dangerous situation aiming to "mislead Ukrainian forces". The event took place in mid-November in the Kherson region, where the Russian forces are currently facing significant challenges.

In this region, Ukrainians managed to establish a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper, enabling person and equipment transportation near the village of Krynki. The control of the river has slipped from the Russians, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are making strides in their aim to expand their territory, potentially leading a future offensive south towards Crimea. The Russians are in a state of desperation.

Undeniably, the Russian command shows little regard for the lives of their soldiers.

Responding to Ukrainian advances on the left bank of the Dnieper and aiming to surprise the enemy, the Russians dispatched a convoy of eleven vehicles towards the village of Gladkivka. The convoy, carrying the unsuspecting 35th Motorized Infantry Brigade, was essentially moving towards a highly likely fatal endpoint.

Swiftly locating the convoy, the Ukrainians decisively annihilated it with HIMARS shelling. The underprepared and ill-equipped Russian forces were blindsided by the attack. The confrontation ended with 76 Russian fatalities; however, a few managed to narrowly escape the carnage and survive.

The incident has generated a heated debate on Russian Telegram channels. An ongoing investigation aims to identify those responsible for the massacre and consequential tactical defeat.

The “Dnieper” group leadership and General Mikhail Teplinsky's allies argue that the event was a “diversionary maneuver” carried out at the expense of soldiers' lives for a greater purpose. Several commentators, however, have dismissed this explanation as an attempted cover-up of the commanding officers’ incompetence that led to the soldiers' deaths.

The fact remains that the Russians have lost control over the left bank of the Dnieper, putting their forces in this region at significant risk. The current situation affords the Ukrainians a vantage point for a potential strike on Crimea.

Intriguingly, it seems that there's more beneath the surface. Despite ongoing tensions with Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu, and General Valery Gerasimov, General Mikhail Teplinsky is widely known for his leadership skills and is considered one of the best commanders on the front. Albeit presently recuperating from injuries in the capital, he continues to be respected within the army ranks.

"One must confront dire situations with dignity; even the most experienced and highly trained commanders sometimes have no choice but to face death," he was quoted as saying recently.

Could another top-ranked officer be on the brink of losing his position under unexplained circumstances? Given the current state of affairs in Russia, it's not entirely out of the question.