Russian ‘Butcher’ General Promoted, Will Build ‘Slaughterhouse’: Ukraine

A Russian general condemned by Ukrainian officials as a “butcher” has been promoted to a high-ranking military position within Moscow’s government.

The Russian Defense Ministry, according to the Odessa Journal, reported on Saturday that Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev had been promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, replacing General Dmitry Bulgakov, who held the position since 2010. It is unclear at this time why Bulgakov was replaced, with the official report saying that he “was relieved of his post due to a transfer to another job.”

“Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev has been appointed to the post of Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, responsible for the logistics of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” the official announcement from the Russian Defense Ministry read.

In response, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense took to Twitter to denounce the promotion of Mizintsev, calling him a “butcher,” and mentioned his infamous roles in Russian operations in Syria and Mariupol.

“Russian general called the Syrian and the Mariupol’s Butcher has been promoted.
Mikhail Mizintsev is now the Russian deputy minister of defense,” the ministry’s tweet read. “The butcher will build a new slaughterhouse. Remember the photo of a war criminal who will by convicted by the tribunal.”

According to the Odessa Journal, Mizintsev was appointed to lead the Russian siege of Mariupol, a major city in the breakaway region of Ukraine, the Donetsk Oblast. Along with the Luhansk Oblast, the region makes up the Donbas area, which has been a focal point of Russia’s invasion, which Russian President Vladimir Putin launched in late February.

The Odessa Journal also reported that Mizintsev was allegedly the one who signed off on orders that intensified the conflict in Mariupol and led to significant loss of civilian life, including the bombings of a theater and hospitals that were serving as shelters for residents. These actions reportedly earned him the nickname, “the butcher of Mariupol.”

According to the BBC, he also reportedly ordered major bombing efforts in Aleppo, Syria, in 2015, causing mass damage to the city.

Citing his history of “reprehensible tactics” and “atrocities,” the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Mizintsev in March, soon after the invasion began.

As part of his new role as Deputy Minister of Defense, Mizintsev will be responsible for managing the logistical aspects of Russia’s military operation, including supply lines. During his time as the previous minister, Bulgakov managed military supply lines for the country’s 2015 operations in Syria. According to a report from BBC News, Bulgakov had “become side-lined in Moscow in recent months,” allegedly due to the logistical and supply failures that have plagued the Kremlin.

Newsweek reached out to Russian officials for comment.