Ivan Ivanovich Popov (; born 30 January 1975) is a former
Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces (), also known as the Russian Army in English, are the Army, land forces of the Russian Armed Forces.
The primary responsibilities of the Russian Ground Forces are the protection of the state borders, combat on land, ...
Popov was born on 30 January 1975 in a small farming
khutor
A khutor ( ; rus, хутор, p=ˈxutər) or khutir (, ) is a type of rural locality in some countries of Eastern Europe; in the past the term mostly referred to a single- homestead settlement.Don steppes, part of
Danilovsky District, Volgograd Oblast
Danilovsky District () is an administrativeLaw #139-OD district (raion), one of the thirty-three in Volgograd Oblast, Russia. As a municipal division, it is incorporated as Danilovsky Municipal District.Law #973-OD It is located in the north o ...
. In his youth Popov aspired to follow in his father's footsteps as a
border guard
A border guard of a country is a national security agency that ensures border security. Some of the national border guard agencies also perform coast guard (as in Germany, Italy or Ukraine) and rescue service duties.
Name and uniform
In diff ...
Moscow Higher Military Command School
The Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School ''" Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR"'' (; abbreviated to MVOKU) is a higher military educational institution of the Russian Armed Forces. Alumni of the school have served with the Soviet Army and the Russi ...
in 1992.
Military career
His first assignment after graduation as a platoon commander was to the 56th Air Assault Regiment of the
North Caucasus Military District
The North Caucasus Military District was a military district of the Russian Armed Forces from 1992-2010. Before 1992 it had been part of the Soviet Armed Forces since 1918. In 2010 it became the Southern Military District and lately also included t ...
. With the 56th, Popov took part in the
Second Chechen War
Names
The Second Chechen War is also known as the Second Chechen Campaign () or the Second Russian Invasion of Chechnya from the Chechens, Chechen insurgents' point of view.Федеральный закон № 5-ФЗ от 12 января 19 ...
. Popov graduated from the Combined Arms Academy and was posted to the operational directorate of the North Caucasus Military District headquarters, taking part in the
Russo-Georgian War
The August 2008 Russo-Georgian War, also known as the Russian invasion of Georgia,Occasionally, the war is also referred to by other names, such as the Five-Day War and August War. was a war waged against Georgia by the Russian Federation and the ...
. Popov subsequently served at the
National Defense Management Center
The National Defense Management Center, also known as the National Defense Control Center (NDCC) (, ) НЦУО, formerly the Central Command Post of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces is the supreme Command center, command and control ...
. Graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 2015, he was appointed commander of the 33rd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (Mountain) in
Adygea
Adygea ( ), officially the Republic of Adygea or the Adygean Republic, is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia. It is situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe. The republic is a part of the Southern Federal District, and covers an a ...
Southern Military District
The Order of the Red Banner Southern Military District () is a military district of Russia.
It is one of the five military districts of the Russian Armed Forces, with its jurisdiction primarily within the North Caucasus region of the country ...
at
Volgograd
Volgograd,. formerly Tsaritsyn. (1589–1925) and Stalingrad. (1925–1961), is the largest city and the administrative centre of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. The city lies on the western bank of the Volga, covering an area of , with a population ...
. With a reputation as one of the fastest rising brigade commanders in the Russian Ground Forces, Popov's performance in exercises was noticed by his superiors. In September 2017 Popov left the brigade for promotion, and it was rumored that he would become deputy commander of the
49th Combined Arms Army
The 49th Combined Arms Army () is a combined arms ( field) army (CAA) of the Russian Ground Forces, formed in 2010 and headquartered in Stavropol. Military Unit в/ч 35181.
Part of the Southern Military District, the army traces its heritage ba ...
.
By May 2018, he was chief of staff of the 22nd Army Corps in Crimea, and still held this position in May 2019.
Russian invasion of Ukraine
By May 2022, Popov was chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps in
Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast () is the westernmost federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of the Russian Federation. It is a Enclave and exclave, semi-exclave on the Baltic Sea within the Baltic region of Prussia (region), Prussia, surrounded by Pola ...
. He commanded the Russian forces in the
Balakliia
Balakliia or Balakliya (, ; ) is a List of cities in Ukraine, city in the Izium Raion, Kharkiv Oblast, eastern Ukraine, on the northeast side of the Siverskyi Donets river close to where it is joined by the , which runs through the town. It is an ...
area by June, conducting a chaotic retreat during the Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive in September. Despite the Russian defeat, Popov was promoted to major general and commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, responsible for the
Zaporizhzhia
Zaporizhzhia, formerly known as Aleksandrovsk or Oleksandrivsk until 1921, is a city in southeast Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. It is the Capital city, administrative centre of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Zaporizhzhia ...
sector, by March 2023. He announced the defeat of Ukrainian attacks in the Zaporizhzhia sector during the Ukrainian counteroffensive on 8 June. However, on 11 July milblogger Telegram channel VChK-OGPU reported that Popov had been relieved of command for requesting the rotation of units out of the frontline. On the next day,
State Duma
The State Duma is the lower house of the Federal Assembly (Russia), Federal Assembly of Russia, with the upper house being the Federation Council (Russia), Federation Council. It was established by the Constitution of Russia, Constitution of t ...
deputy Andrey Gurulyov published a message from Popov explaining the reasons for his dismissal.
Popov declared that Chief of the
General Staff
A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, Enlisted rank, enlisted, and civilian staff who serve the commanding officer, commander of a ...
Valery Gerasimov
Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov (born 8 September 1955) is a Russian Army general (Russia), army general serving as the Chief of the General Staff (Russia), Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Ministry of Defen ...
dismissed him over his concerns for troops fighting without rest and criticism of Russian battlefield strategy. In response to Popov's criticisms, Gerasimov accused him of "engaging disinformation in panic." Popov indirectly accused Gerasimov and
Defense Minister
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divid ...
Sergei Shoigu
Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu; , . (born 21 May 1955) is a Russian politician and military officer who has served as secretary of the Security Council since 2024. He served as Minister of Defence of Russia from 2012 to 2024. Shoigu has served a ...
of betraying Russian soldiers on the battlefield by failing to provide sufficient support and raised questions about "the lack of counter-battery fire, the absence of artillery radars and the mass deaths and injuries of our brothers from enemy artillery." Popov finished his message by exhorting his soldiers to continue the fight to defeat the Ukrainian counteroffensive "in the name of the blood spilled by soldiers and officers." State Duma Defense Committee Chairman
Andrey Kartapolov
Andrey Valeryevich Kartapolov (; born 9 November 1963) is a Russian politician and former army officer of the Russian Army. From 30 July 2018 to October 2021 he served as Deputy Minister of Defence (Russia), Defence Minister, and headed the Main ...
responded to Popov's message with the statement that Popov's criticisms would be taken seriously and acted upon.
Arrest
Popov was arrested on 17 May 2024 on fraud charges. The 235th Garrison Military Court was reported to be taking up the case against Popov, who holds the rank of Major General. There was no comment from the
Russian Defense Ministry
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (; MOD) is the governing body of the Russian Armed Forces. The President of Russia is the Commander-in-Chief of the forces and directs the activity of the ministry. The Minister of Defence exerci ...
or Russian law enforcement agencies about the reported arrest. On 15 July, the military court allowed Popov to serve his pre-trial detention at home. In April 2025 he was sentenced to five years in prison.