The commander of one of Russia's five military districts, heavily criticised for the performance of his troops in Ukraine, is taking a three-week holiday, according to the regional news agency Ura.ru.
The Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
But the Russian newspaper Kommersant cited the press office of the Central Military District, based like Ura.ru in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, as confirming that a temporary commander was standing in for Major-General Alexander Lapin.
