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Mikhail Mizintsev

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

Colonel General
Mikhail Mizintsev
Михаил Мизинцев
Mizintsev in 2022
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
Mikhail Yevgenyevich Mizintsev

(1962-09-10) 10 September 1962 (age 62)
Averinskaya, Vologda Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Russia
Years of service1980–present
RankColonel general
Battles/wars

Mikhail Yevgenyevich Mizintsev (Russian: Михаил Евгеньевич Мизинцев; born 10 September 1962) is a Russian colonel general. He headed the National Defense Management Center of Russia, served as the deputy minister of defence of Russia for logistics from 24 September 2022 to 27 April 2023, and later in Wagner Group.[1]

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mizintsev commanded Russian forces during the siege of Mariupol. He commanded numerous attacks on civilians, including airstrikes on the city's theatre and hospital, which were denounced as war crimes and earned him the nickname of "Butcher of Mariupol".[2][3][4]

Military career

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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

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He allegedly orchestrated bombing campaigns during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, including at the Battle of Aleppo.[3] He was accused of arranging a brutal bombing campaign that annihilated Aleppo.[5] He is a recipient of the "Participant of the military operation in Syria" Medal.

Russo-Ukraine War

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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.[2][3][4][6]

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.[6] His claims have been refuted by sources which assert refugees are being attacked and sent to filtration camps.[7][8]

On 24 September 2022 Mizintsev was appointed deputy minister of defense of Russia and Chief of the Rear, replacing Dmitry Bulgakov.[9]

On 27 April 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."[10]

On 5 May 2023, Reuters reported that Mizintsev was visible in two videos on Telegram posted by war correspondent Alexander Simonov wearing Wagner-branded combat gear. He was shown visiting a training camp and touring Russian positions in Bakhmut. In a video statement, Yevgeny Prigozhin praised Mizintsev but did not confirm or deny that he was hired by Wagner. [11] Per a Polish Centre for Eastern Studies report detailing the fallout after Prigozhin's mutiny, Mizintsev's dismissal as deputy defense minister was indeed due to his collaboration with Prigozhin, and he was confirmed as a member of Wagner Group’s command structure before the Wagner Group rebellion in June of 2023 and Prigozhin's subsequent death on August 23rd. [12] Mizintsev's subsequent whereabouts remain unknown.

Sanctions

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He has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom,[6][13] Japan,[14] New Zealand,[15] the European Union,[16] Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and Ukraine.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Former Russian defense minister joins Wagner PMC". Yahoo News. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Ball, Tom (24 March 2022). "'Butcher of Mariupol' inflicts brutality he learnt in Syria". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Batchelor, Tom. "'Butcher of Mariupol' accused of ordering maternity hospital bombing six years after destroying Aleppo". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Brown, Lee (24 March 2022). "Russian 'Butcher of Mariupol' blamed for worst Ukraine war atrocities". New York Post. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  5. ^ Murphy, Matt (24 September 2022). "Dmitry Bulgakov: Putin fires deputy defence chief amid supply failures". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Cowburn, Ashley (31 March 2022). "Russian general dubbed 'butcher of Mariupol' among new list of sanctions announced by Liz Truss". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. ^ Prentice, Alessandra (16 March 2022). "Ukraine accuses Russia of firing rockets at convoy of Mariupol evacuees, wounding child". Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. ^ Weber, Peter (21 March 2022). "Russia is sorting Mariupol 'evacuees' at 'filtration camps,' based on social media posts, Ukrainians say". The Week. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Russian Deputy Defense Minister Removed From Office". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Rob Lee Twitter update about the firing of general Mizintsev". Twitter.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Russian ex-deputy defence minister joins Wagner as feud escalates, war bloggers report". Reuters.com. Retrieved 29 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "The calm after the storm - Russia following Prigozhin's mutiny". osw.waw.pl. Retrieved 29 August 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Japan adds more Russian people and organizations to sanctions list as Ukraine invasion drags on". 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Russia Sanctions Regulations 2022". Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  16. ^ "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. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  17. ^ "MIZINTSEV Mikhail Yevgenyevich - biography, dossier, assets | War and sanctions". sanctions.nazk.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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