War in Ukraine: Russia replaces its general in charge of logistics
Mikhail Mizintsev (here in 2018) previously headed the National Defense Control Center.
AP - Vadim Savitsky
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The announcement made this Saturday, September 24 comes at the dawn of a vast mobilization campaign and while the offensive in Ukraine has shown difficulties in terms of organization.
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The announcement came in the form of a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.
“
Army General Dmitry Bulgakov was relieved of his duties as Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation due to his transfer to another post
”, it is written without further details.
The general was replaced by Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, who until then headed the National Defense Control Center.
He will now be the Deputy Minister of Defense "
responsible for the material and technical supply of the armed forces
", further indicates the ministry.
Aged 60, Mikhail Mizintsev has held many positions of responsibility within the general staff during his long military career.
He is targeted by Western sanctions for his role in the siege of Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine conquered in May by Russian forces at the cost of significant destruction.
Huge challenge
This change in the general staff comes as President Vladimir Putin announced this week the
mobilization of hundreds of thousands of Russians
to give new impetus to his offensive in Ukraine.
This mobilization represents a major organizational challenge, requiring reservists to be summoned to the four corners of an immense territory, to equip them, to send them to training centers and then to the front.
However, the military intervention in Ukraine has brought to light significant difficulties in terms of logistics, with analysts pointing to these shortcomings as one of the reasons explaining the difficulties encountered by Russian troops from the start of the offensive.
Moscow also announced on Saturday the signing of a law increasing the penalties for surrender or refusal to fight during mobilization.
It provides for up to 10 years in prison.
Vladimir Putin has also signed a law facilitating access to Russian nationality for foreigners who enlist for at least a year in the army.
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