Colonel General Alexander Lapin, formerly head of the Leningrad Military District (LMD), has been relieved of his post and discharged from military service. His replacement has been Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov, former commander of the disbanded Western Military District, SHOT sources reported.

Alexander Lapin served as commander of the Leningrad Military District since May 15, 2024, when the district was recreated from the Western Military District. Prior to this, he had extensive combat experience: in 2017, he served as chief of staff of the Russian group of forces in Syria, and in 2022, he led the "Center" group during the special military operation (SVO). Under his leadership, Russian troops participated in the key battles for Lysychansk, for which Lapin was awarded the title Hero of Russia in July 2022. In 2023, he returned to the front, overseeing important sectors, including Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. However, in August 2025, the Ministry of Defense confirmed his dismissal from the position of commander of the "North" group, and now his complete dismissal. The reasons for the personnel decision have not been officially disclosed, but Avia.pro sources attribute it to "organizational changes" in the structure of the Russian Armed Forces.

Lapin is being replaced by 55-year-old Evgeny Nikiforov, whose career spans command positions in various districts and groups. After graduating from the Kolomna Higher Artillery Command School in 1995, Nikiforov rose from battery commander to commander of large formations. From 2016 to 2017, he commanded the 20th Guards Army of the Western Military District, and in 2017, the 58th Army of the Southern Military District. From June to October 2021, Nikiforov commanded a group of forces in Syria, and from December 2022, he commanded the Western Military District until its disbandment in 2024. For his services to the Fatherland, he was awarded the Order of Military Merit, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, and the Order of Kutuzov. In August 2025, Nikiforov was already appointed commander of the "North" group, which fits logically into the current reshuffle.