Mikhail Mizintsev

Mikhail Yevgenyevich Mizintsev (Russian: Михаил Евгеньевич Мизинцев; born 10 September 1962) is a Russian colonel general currently serving as the deputy minister of defence of Russia for overseeing logistics since 24 September 2022. Prior to this, he headed the National Defense Management Center of Russia.

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

Mikhail Mizintsev
Mizintsev in 2022
Native name
Михаил Евгеньевич Мизинцев
Nickname(s)Butcher of Mariupol[1][2]
Born (1962-09-10) 10 September 1962
Averinskaya, Vologda Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
(now Russia)
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Russia
Years of service1980–1991 (USSR)
1991–present (Russia)
RankColonel general
Battles/wars

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".[3][2][4]

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.[5]

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.[3][2][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 defence of Russia, replacing Dmitry Bulgakov.[9]

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.[6]

Sanctioned by Japan in January 2023 as a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[10]

Sanctioned by New Zealand in relation to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11]

Sanctioned by European Union in relation to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[12]

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. Ball, Tom (24 March 2022). "'Butcher of Mariupol' inflicts brutality he learnt in Syria". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  4. Brown, Lee (24 March 2022). "Russian 'Butcher of Mariupol' blamed for worst Ukraine war atrocities". New York Post. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  5. Murphy, Matt (24 September 2022). "Dmitry Bulgakov: Putin fires deputy defence chief amid supply failures". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. 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.
  7. 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)
  8. 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)
  9. "Russian Deputy Defense Minister Removed From Office". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  10. "Japan adds more Russian people and organizations to sanctions list as Ukraine invasion drags on". Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  11. "Russia Sanctions Regulations 2022". Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  12. 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 , June 2022
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