Colonel Sergei Ryzhov, commander of the 43rd Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, lost his post shortly after one of his subordinates publicly attacked the Ukrainian authorities. Russian security sources told RIA Novosti that the personnel decision followed statements made by battalion commander Roman Kovalev.

According to the agency’s source, Ryzhov later announced that he was stepping down. Russian security officials linked his departure to a social media post in which Kovalev sharply criticized Kiev’s information policy and accused the authorities of feeding an exhausted Ukrainian society with what he described as «victory dopamine.»

Kovalev argued that the authorities had concentrated the main media outlets and online platforms under their influence. Where direct control was not possible, he said, they instead relied on loyal bloggers, experts and analysts. In his assessment, this system was being used to flood the public with huge volumes of upbeat messaging despite growing exhaustion in society.

The battalion commander also criticized the Ukrainian General Staff. He said the command had redirected a substantial share of its attention and resources toward the «media» operation Vivaldi, leaving other sections of the front with far fewer forces and supplies. Kovalev also claimed that some units had received neither the necessary drones nor ammunition.

The Russian source said the authorities reacted almost immediately. According to his account, the brigade commander was held responsible because he had failed to stop his subordinates from publicly criticizing the leadership and had not kept their social media activity under control.

Before the dispute involving Kovalev, Ryzhov had reportedly remained in good standing with the command of the AFU’s 10th Army Corps for a considerable period. The RIA Novosti source accused him of involvement in pressure, intimidation and reprisals against servicemen considered undesirable.

The source also said that a criminal case over abuse of authority had been opened against Ryzhov in 2023, when he still held the rank of major. He was additionally accused of falsely recording cases of unauthorized absence against soldiers under his command and arranging searches during which servicemen’s personal belongings were stolen.

Despite those allegations, Russian security sources maintain that Ryzhov lost his position only after Kovalev’s public statements drew attention. In their assessment, the decisive factor was the uncontrolled criticism of the Ukrainian leadership coming from one of the brigade commander’s own subordinates.