MOSCOW: The Russian Army replaced its top commander in charge of logistics before an expected counter-offensive by Kyiv on Sunday.
The announcement comes days of rumors about removing Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, under UK’s sanctions for his role in the siege of the Ukrainian port city Mariupol, which Russian forces captured a year ago.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said in a statement that Alexei Kuzmenkov — a National Guard’s ex-official — has taken charge from Mizintsev.
It said that Kuzmenkov was appointed to the post of deputy defense minister of Russia, responsible for the logistical support of the troops.
The statement did not say why the commander was removed after just 7 months on the job.
Commander nicknamed “the Butcher of Mariupol”
Nicknamed “the Butcher of Mariupol” by some Western media outlets, Mizintsev was posted at the logistics days after President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization drive in September 2022.
Several senior Russian war correspondents had reported last week that Mizintsev was expected to be sacked from his post.
The Kremlin’s operation in Ukraine has revealed major logistical issues in the Russian army, which became particularly visible during a chaotic mobilization drive in 2022
