Russian ground forces fall under command of controversial general

• Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev has been appointed as the commander-in-chief of Russia's ground forces, replacing Gen. Oleg Salyukov.
• Mordvichev previously commanded the 8th Combined Army of the Southern Military District and the Central Military District.
• Under his leadership, Russian forces in Mariupol may have been involved in war crimes, including blocking humanitarian aid.

Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev has assumed the position of commander-in-chief of the ground forces in the Russian army. He replaced General Oleg Salyukov, who was appointed deputy secretary of the Security Council, thereby serving as the deputy to Sergey Shoigu.

Mordvichev recently gained the support of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, which he demonstrated by sharing a video in which he appears alongside him. The Russian exclaimed, "Akhmat is true strength!" (Akhmat is the name of Kadyrov's personal army) and gave Kadyrov a strong hug. Kadyrov responded by calling Mordvichev "the best commander".

According to experts, this support may have contributed to Mordvichev's promotion.

Before taking his new position, Mordvichev served as the commander of the Central Military District since 2023. His military career also includes commanding the 8th Combined Army of the Southern Military District.

In the spring of 2022, Mordvichev commanded Russian forces during the siege of Mariupol, including the attack on the Azovstal plant. According to Human Rights Watch, his troops may have been involved in mass war crimes, such as the blockade of humanitarian aid and evacuation. These actions have contributed to his controversial reputation.

Source: Onet