A Russian military commander known as the “meatgrinder” has been relieved of his duties by the Kremlin due to strategic failures and high troop casualties. Sukhrab Akhmedov, a 51-year-old career officer, faced criticism for ordering aggressive assaults that yielded minimal results and led to significant losses among Russian forces. He is among several senior officers accused of sending troops on futile missions in Ukraine and Russia, resulting in numerous casualties on the frontlines dubbed as ‘the meatgrinder.’
Reports suggest that Akhmedov, who held top command roles for four years, may have been forced into early retirement following his inability to make substantial progress in battlefields like Sumy and Donetsk. His leadership reportedly caused a decline in morale within the ranks. In one instance, Russian troops made an advancement into Dobropillia in Donetsk but were later pushed back by Ukrainian special forces after a prolonged conflict.
Allegedly, Akhmedov’s dismissal was primarily due to failed mechanized assaults in the Dobropilla region in December 2025, which led to heavy casualties. He oversaw operations involving naval infantry brigades that suffered significant losses under his command. Complaints about his leadership date back to 2023 when a Ukrainian counter-attack in Luhansk resulted in Russian troop casualties and the need for reinforcements.
Akhmedov’s lack of concern for troop losses became evident during the invasion of Ukraine in March 2022 when he ordered missions that proved unsuccessful, resulting in Russian forces being repelled by Ukrainian defenses. Despite starting his career in the elite Naval Infantry units, Akhmedov lacked combat experience in Ukraine before 2022 and had not served in Syria. His subordinates reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with his disregard for casualties through letters to senior commanders.
It is speculated that Akhmedov’s removal was a result of his repeated failures on the battlefield and his inability to effectively lead Russian forces in critical operations.