A commander in Russia, known as the “meatgrinder,” has been removed from his position due to severe mistakes on the battlefield that led to high troop casualties. Sukhrab Akhmedov, from Dagestan, has not been seen in public since his dismissal by the Kremlin. Thousands of soldiers under his leadership were sent on dangerous missions, resulting in significant frontline losses.
Despite once being supported by the Kremlin, Akhmedov fell out of favor with Russian troops for his harsh tactics that yielded little success. He is among several former high-ranking officers accused of sending soldiers on futile missions that resulted in numerous Russian casualties in what was referred to as ‘the meatgrinder.’
There are reports suggesting that many North Korean troops, who suffered heavy casualties, were sacrificed by commanders like Akhmedov in both Ukraine and Russia. A British military source indicated that his dismissal was likely due to his poor performance and that it was long overdue.
Historically, Russia has shown a willingness to deploy large numbers of troops into battle even when faced with failure. Akhmedov’s track record is particularly troubling given his repeated unsuccessful mechanized assaults in the Dobropilla region, resulting in significant Russian losses.
Russian milbloggers claim that Akhmedov’s failed operations involved three naval infantry brigades, all of which suffered heavy casualties under his command. Complaints about his leadership were raised as far back as 2023 when Russian forces suffered losses in Luhansk due to a Ukrainian counter-attack.
Akhmedov’s aggressive tactics, lacking consideration for troop losses, were evident during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite lacking previous combat experience in Ukraine or Syria, his decisions led to failed assaults and significant Russian casualties. Troops under his command had reportedly expressed concerns about his disregard for casualties.
Akhmedov’s military career began in the mid-1990s within elite Naval Infantry units but without prior battlefield experience. His abrupt removal from top command roles suggests a culmination of his poor performance and disregard for troop well-being.