Putin is pursing more senior generals after Russian troops were forced to withdraw from the southeast Ukrainian city

RUSSIAN military chiefs have removed several generals from key roles as their advance is blocked.

The move comes after Ukrainian forces were ordered to withdraw from the southeastern city of Severodonetsk to regroup and limit casualties.

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Defense Intelligence, part of the Defense Ministry, said Colonel-General Andrei Serdyukov is likely to step down as commander of the Airborne Forces.

Also missing is Alexandr Dvornikov, commander of the Southern Group of Forces, General of the Army.

He could be replaced by Sergei Surovikin – who has been dogged by allegations of corruption and brutality throughout his 30-year career.

Defense intelligence said: “Since early June, the Russian high command has most likely removed several generals from key operational command roles.”

This comes amid fears that Vladimir Putin may purge his inner circle after four recent “suicides” by gas industry executives linked to the tyrant.

In April, Russian sources, including a former FSB colonel, described the suicides as “suspicious” on the Telegram news channel.

On February 25, a day after the start of the Ukraine war, the body of Alexander Tyulakov, 61, a senior finance and security official at Gazprom at the level of Deputy Director General, was discovered by his lover.

His neck was in a noose at his £500,000 home.

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