Russia: Mikhail Mizintsev, from the Russian Army to Wagner

Mikhail Mizintsev (pictured here in 2018) was Russian Deputy Minister of Defense in charge of logistics from September 2022 until April 30, 2023. AP - Vadim Savitsky

Text by: Anissa El Jabri Follow

1 min

From the Russian army to Wagner... We are not talking here about a former soldier out of the ranks or an officer in reconversion, but - this is a first at this level - the former Russian Deputy Minister of Defence. Mikhail Mizintsev was in charge of logistics until 30th April. He is under sanctions from the British government for his role in the siege of Mariupol.

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From our correspondent in Moscow

The rumor had been circulating for a few days among military correspondents: Mikhail Mizintsev did not intend to hang up the uniform. Just four days later after leaving the army, here he is 60 years after sunset in what is billed as a Wagner training camp.

Excerpt from a 4-minute video of the private company's newly appointed deputy commander with his masked subordinates:

Mikhail Mizintsev: "Urban tactics have their own peculiarities. From your point of view, what is most effective today to defeat the enemy, whether in wooded areas or in urban areas?

Soldier: "Received. Look, open and wooded terrain is very different from urban terrain. In urban combat, we necessarily work at close range. As a result, we constantly observe the enemy and never lower our weapons.

A Russian military correspondent sees this as a strengthening of the management of the "orchestra", Wagner's nickname; others will note that Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has complained a lot about the low number of ammunition donated by the army, thus recovers in his ranks the former head of defense logistics, dismissed from his post in a few official dry words.

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