Top Russian general states in a voice message that removed from his position in Ukraine after telling the army leaders the truth about the dire situation on the front lineaccording to Reuters.

Such a one public criticism of Russia’s military leadership by a general three weeks after Wagner’s mutiny, if authentic, indicates continued discontent within the Russian military as it is waging Europe’s biggest country war since World War II, reports reuters.

Major Ivan Popov was the commander of the 58th Army, which is fighting in the southern region of Zaporizhia. In a voicemail, General Popov said he raised questions about the high casualty rate and lack of artillery support. “It was necessary to either keep quiet and be a coward or tell it like it is,” he said, adding that “I had no right to lie in the name of my fallen comrades, so I described all the problems that exist.”

The voice message was released in a cable by Russian lawmaker Andrei Guruliov, who is a former military commander and frequent commentator on state television. It is unclear when the message was recorded.

Among the issues Major Popoff said he highlighted to his superiors were; the lack of adequate anti-aircraft systems to help repel Ukrainian artillery attacksas well as the lack of military intelligence.

The commander said his dismissal was requested by senior commanders, whom he accused of treason, and approved by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Russian military bloggers reported that the order for the dismissal of General Popov had come from the head of Russia’s armed forces, General Valery Gerasimov.

They said General Gerasimov accused General Popov of “blackmailing senior officials” after he stressed the need to rotate soldiers who had been on the front lines for a prolonged period and had suffered significant casualties.

“Senior leaders apparently sensed some kind of danger from me and removed me in just one day,” General Popov said. “The Ukrainian army could not break our ranks at the front, but the senior leader hit us from behindbeheading the army at the most difficult moment”.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the dismissal of General Popov.