Vladimir Putin promotes 'butcher' general to Russia's Deputy Minister of Defense

Mikhail Mizintsev, also known as the 'butcher' general, has been promoted to the senior governmental position within the Russian Ministry of Defense and will be responsible for the logistics of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

‘Butcher of Mariopol’

According to a reportby Newsweek, Mizintsev was promoted by Vladimir Putin this weekend from Colonel General to the position of Deputy Minister of Defense. Mizintsev has made an infamous name for himself in Ukraine, according to a report by the New York Post, he is referred to as the ‘Butcher of Mariopol’.

In the same report, Newsweek cites the Odessa Journal which claims that Mizintsev was responsible for the Russian siege of Mariupol, and for intensifying the human toll of this campaign by having signed orders to bombard hospitals and a theatre where civilians were sheltering.

Immediate response by Ukraine

The promotion of Mizintsev did not go unnoticed. Immediately the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense took to Twitter to react to the news by sharing his picture with followers and asking them to ‘remember the face of a war criminal who will be convicted by the tribunal’.

According to the same post, but also according to the BBCandNew York Post, Mizintsev was also responsible for the vicious bombardment of Aleppo in Syria, with cluster bombs which levelled the city and forced it into submission. Resultantly he received the infamous name of ‘butcher general’.

According to Newsweek, Mizintsev's new position involves managing the logistical aspects of Russia's military operation, including supply lines.

Sources used:

- Newsweek: 'Russian 'Butcher' General Promoted, Will Build 'Slaughterhouse': Ukraine'

- New York Post: '‘Butcher of Mariupol’ promoted in Russian Army shakeup as ‘sham’ vote continues'

- BBC: 'Dmitry Bulgakov: Putin fires deputy defence chief amid supply failures'

- New York Post: 'Troubling satellite images show devastating destruction in Aleppo'

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