File photo of Colonel General Mikhail Mzintsev of Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin carried out a military shake-up, firing several high-ranking officers, including Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, whose brutal tactics in the Ukraine war earned him the nickname “The Butcher of Mariupol”. new york post, The news about General Mizintsev’s ouster was posted on Telegram by Alexander Sladkov, a correspondent for the Russian state-run newspaper Izvestia. The outlet further reported that no reason was given for the 60-year-old’s termination as deputy defense minister.
Mizintsev had laid siege to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in the early months of the war the previous year. In September, he was appointed Deputy Defense Minister in charge of Logistics and Supply.
In imposing sanctions against Mizintsev last June, the European Union referred to him as the Butcher of Mariupol and said he was responsible for the “inhumane” siege of the shattered Ukrainian city, which Russia says it is now trying to rebuild. Used to be.
The Defense Ministry has not officially responded to the development, while the Kremlin has said it cannot say anything on the subject and has referred questions on the matter to the Defense Ministry, Reuters reported.
Mr Putin made a surprise visit to Mariupol in March, his first visit to territory captured from Ukraine since the start of Moscow’s invasion.
The Russian leader toured the city by car. The Kremlin said he visited a renovated musical theater and followed the presentation of a report on the reconstruction work.
Russia has captured more than a sixth of Ukraine’s territory, but has suffered heavy losses during the 14-month war. It has not made any significant gains since last July, while forcing major retreats around the cities of Kharkiv and Kherson.
It is currently bracing itself for a Ukrainian counter-offensive, while trying to take full control of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine after months of fighting.