12:46 21-09-2025

General Alexander Lapin Dismissed from Military Service, New Appointment Announced

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General Alexander Lapin has been dismissed from military service and appointed assistant to Tatarstan's head. Yevgeny Nikiforov takes over as Leningrad Military District Commander.

Russian Army General Colonel Alexander Lapin has been dismissed from military service, according to sources familiar with the personnel decision, as reported by RBK. His position as Commander of the Leningrad Military District has been taken over by General Colonel Yevgeny Nikiforov.

Earlier, it was announced that Lapin would be appointed assistant to Rustam Minnikhanov, the newly inaugurated head of Tatarstan as of September 19, 2025. Local media outlets reported that Lapin’s role would focus on supporting participants of the special military operation and their families. His responsibilities would include overseeing contract service arrangements, as well as the organization of social and medical support, and facilitating the reintegration of soldiers returning from the frontlines into civilian life.

Lapin, born in 1964 in Kazan, held several key positions starting in 2017, including Chief of Staff for Russian forces in Syria, and Commander of the Central Military District. In 2022, he led the Russian military grouping «Center» and was publicly criticized by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov for failures near Krasny Liman.

Lapin later served as First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, before being appointed to head the Leningrad Military District and the Northern military grouping. Under his command, operations were conducted around Volchansk, the defense and liberation of Kursk Region, and the establishment of buffer zones in Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

In August 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that Yevgeny Nikiforov had been appointed as the new commander of the Northern grouping of troops.