Sacked Army General Appointed Tatarstan’s Deputy PM

Sep. 28, 2026 Colonel General Alexander Lapin. tatar-inform.ru Colonel General Alexander Lapin, a controversial Russian military commander dismissed from service last year following battlefield setbacks in Ukraine, has been appointed deputy prime minister of the republic of Tatarstan, officials said Monday, where he will oversee regional policy supporting war veterans and their families. Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of Tatarstan, announced Lapin’s appointment to the newly created post of Tatarstan’s deputy prime minister during his annual address to the regional legislature. “A fighter’s greatest support is a strong home front. It’s vital that each one feels confident their future is securely protected by the state,” Minnikhanov said. Lapin previously served as one of Minnikhanov’s aides overseeing troop recruitment and rehabilitation. He will now lead a regional initiative to reintegrate returning soldiers into civilian life through structured job placement, medical checkups and weekly support meetings. The ex-commander took up the regional cabinet position despite running on the ruling United Russia party ticket during this month’s State Duma elections. Before his dismissal in 2025, Lapin commanded Russia’s Central Military District and led major military formations in the war against Ukraine. His service was marked by significant defeats, including the collapse of the Russian front line during Ukraine’s 2022 counteroffensive and the cross-border incursion into the Kursk region in August 2024. Those failures made Lapin a target for intense criticism among pro-war figures and officials, including Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late founder of the Wagner mercenary group. Read more about: Tatarstan , Regions Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Regions Calling: Life With No Internet Is the New Normal Frequent and in some cases permanent mobile internet outages and restrictions have transformed the lives of ordinary people in Russia’s regions. 6 Min read Kazan Says Goodbye to BRICS Games With Ancient Tatar Festival of Sabantuy Athletes bid farewell to Tatarstan at the closing ceremony on Sunday as the region's Tatar and Bashkir communities marked the Sabantuy summer festival... 1 Min read Inaugural ‘Games of the Future’ Fail to Undo Moscow’s International Isolation Experts called the games “an attempt by Putin’s inner circle to show him…that everything in Russia is like before and even better.” 4 Min read Viral Russian Gang Drama Revisits the Ultraviolence of 1980s Kazan The No. 1 series in Russia recreates Kazan's thriving gang culture of the late 80s. But it brings up painful memories for some who lived through it. 6 Min read