Ukraine-Russia war: Putin sacks his deputy minister
Main photo: AP, Sky News
The Telegraph's James Kilner reports that, frustrated with the war's results, Vladimir Putin sacked his defence minister.
In Russia, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev is one of the highest-ranking Russian military commanders who was fired in the 14-month-long combat.
Major Ukrainian counteroffensive is on its way - Putin's decision timing might be connected with it.
The Telegraph also states that "influential Russian military bloggers have criticised his sacking," which makes the whole situation even more mysterious. “He is one of my friends. I respect him a lot,” pro-war Russian blogger, Alexander Sladkov, wrote on the Telegram social media channel It is followed by nearly one million followers. Sladkov does not understand Putin's decision.
Last year, Ukrainian media and the Foreign Office called Mizintsev the “Butcher of Mariupol” for allegedly ordering the bombing of Mariupol. Nonetheless, western analysts have expressed that it is dubious that he was in charge of the destruction of Ukraine's city. Apparently, his role had been concentrated on the Russian administration rather than massive war operations.
Source: The Telegraph
