MOSCOW, July 13 (Reuters) - A Russian general said he had been dismissed as a commander after telling the military leadership about the dire situation at the front in Ukraine where he said Russian soldiers had been stabbed in the back by the failings of the top military brass.

Major General Ivan Popov, who commanded the 58th Combined Arms Army, said in a voice message published by a Russian lawmaker that he had been dismissed.

There was no immediate comment from the defence ministry and Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of the voice message. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Andrew Osborn)