Mikhail Mizintsev

Mikhail Yevgenyevich Mizintsev (Russian: Михаил Евгеньевич Мизинцев; born 10 September 1962) is a Russian colonel general currently serving in the Russian mercenary group Wagner.[3]

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming conventions, the patronymic is Yevgenyevich and the family name is Mizintsev.

Colonel General
Mikhail Mizintsev
Михаил Евгеньевич Мизинцев
Mizintsev in 2022
Deputy Commander of the Wagner Group
Assumed office
4 May 2023
LeaderYevgeny Prigozhin
Deputy Minister of Defence
In office
24 September 2022 – 27 April 2023
MinisterSergei Shoigu
Preceded byDmitry Bulgakov
Succeeded byAlexey Kuzmenkov
Director of the National Defense Management Center
In office
1 December 2014 – 24 September 2022
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOleg Gorshenin
Director of the Central Command Post of the General Staff of the Armed Forces
In office
August 2012 – 1 December 2014
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born (1962-09-10) 10 September 1962
Averinskaya, Vologda Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
(now Russia)
NicknameButcher of Mariupol[1][2]
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Russia
Years of service1980–1991 (USSR)
1991–present (Russia)
RankColonel general
Battles/wars

He most recently served as the deputy minister of defence of Russia for logistics from 24 September 2022 to 27 April 2023. Prior to this, he headed the National Defense Management Center of Russia.

He has commanded Russian forces during the Siege of Mariupol, during which several attacks on civilians have been reported (including airstrikes on the city's theatre and hospital) and denounced as war crimes, for which Ukrainian military officials have reportedly referred to Mizintsev as the "Butcher of Mariupol".[4][2][5]

Military career

Mizintsev began his military career in 1980, under the Soviet Union, and continued serving in the Russian Ground Forces after its dissolution.

Syrian civil war

He allegedly orchestrated bombing campaigns during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, including at the Battle of Aleppo.[2] He was accused of arranging a brutal bombing campaign that annihilated Aleppo.[6] He is a recipient of the "Participant of the military operation in Syria" Medal.

Russo-Ukrainian war

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mizintsev has led troops during the Siege of Mariupol, reportedly taking a personal role in directing the siege. He has been accused of war crimes by multiple people, including Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk, who stated that he should be held accountable for war crimes at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.[4][2][5][7]

Mizintsev has denied these accusations, blaming Ukrainian forces for creating "a terrible humanitarian catastrophe", accusing the Azov Battalion of hiding inside the drama theatre and hospital, and claiming he will allow the "safe exit" of anyone in Mariupol who surrenders.[7] His claims have been refuted by sources which assert refugees are being attacked and sent to filtration camps.[8][9]

On September 24, 2022, Mizintsev was appointed deputy minister of defence of Russia, replacing Dmitry Bulgakov.[10]

On April 27, 2023, Russian military correspondent Alexander Sladkov confirmed via Telegram that Mizintsev was sacked from his post as deputy defense minister for logistics. Russian military blogger and propagandist Semyon Pegov stated that this was part of a "number of senior dismissals likely related to Putin's visit to Ukraine where officers at the front had an opportunity to explain the real situation."[11]

Sanctions

On 31 March 2022, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced that Mizintsev was being added to the UK's sanctions list, alongside several Russian television hosts.[7][12]

He has also been sanctioned by Japan,[13] New Zealand,[14] the European Union,[15] Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Ukraine.[16]

References
  1. Ball, Tom (24 March 2022). "'Butcher of Mariupol' inflicts brutality he learnt in Syria". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  2. Batchelor, Tom. "'Butcher of Mariupol' accused of ordering maternity hospital bombing six years after destroying Aleppo". The Independent. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  3. "Former Russian defense minister joins Wagner PMC". Yahoo News. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. Ball, Tom (24 March 2022). "'Butcher of Mariupol' inflicts brutality he learnt in Syria". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  5. Brown, Lee (24 March 2022). "Russian 'Butcher of Mariupol' blamed for worst Ukraine war atrocities". New York Post. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  6. Murphy, Matt (24 September 2022). "Dmitry Bulgakov: Putin fires deputy defence chief amid supply failures". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  7. Cowburn, Ashley (31 March 2022). "Russian general dubbed 'butcher of Mariupol' among new list of sanctions announced by Liz Truss". The Independent. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  8. Prentice, Alessandra (16 March 2022). "Ukraine accuses Russia of firing rockets at convoy of Mariupol evacuees, wounding child". Reuters. Retrieved 1 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. Weber, Peter (21 March 2022). "Russia is sorting Mariupol 'evacuees' at 'filtration camps,' based on social media posts, Ukrainians say". The Week. Retrieved 1 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. "Russian Deputy Defense Minister Removed From Office". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  11. "Rob Lee Twitter update about the firing of general Mizintsev". Twitter.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  12. "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK" (PDF). Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  13. "Japan adds more Russian people and organizations to sanctions list as Ukraine invasion drags on". Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  14. "Russia Sanctions Regulations 2022". Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  15. "Eur-lex.europa.eu:Beschluss (GASP) 2022/429 des Rates vom 15. März 2022 zur Änderung des Beschlusses 2014/145/GASP über restriktive Maßnahmen angesichts von Handlungen, die die territoriale Unversehrtheit, Souveränität und Unabhängigkeit der Ukraine untergraben oder bedrohen" [Eur-lex.europa.eu:Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/429 of 15 March 2022 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of acts which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine]. June 2022.
  16. "MIZINTSEV Mikhail Yevgenyevich - biography, dossier, assets | War and sanctions". sanctions.nazk.gov.ua. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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