The day of the war at a glance: Putin intervenes in military planning – “Butcher of Mariupol” becomes Deputy Minister

The day of the war at a glance
Putin intervenes in military planning – “Butcher of Mariupol” becomes deputy minister

The Russian war against Ukraine has now lasted more than 200 days. In view of the massive logistics problems, Kremlin boss Putin replaces the responsible minister. In addition, protests in Russia against the mobilization are increasing, as are reports of breakdowns.

Putin bans withdrawal from Kherson

Russia’s head of state, Vladimir Putin, appears to be increasingly intervening in military planning. He told commanders that strategic decisions on the ground are for him to make, like that “New York Times” with reference to US officials reported. Among other things, the 69-year-old rejected the demand from his commanders in Cherson in the south of the country for a withdrawal from the area. The military had argued that this would save military equipment and the lives of soldiers.

“Butcher of Mariupol” becomes Deputy Minister of Defense

Meanwhile, seven months after the start of the war, Putin fired Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Bulgakov, who is responsible for equipping and supplying the army. Officially, the Ministry of Defense justified the step with the transfer of the four-star general “to another post”. His successor is to be Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, who previously headed the national center for defense management. In the future, he will be responsible in particular for logistics. Misintsev is held responsible abroad for the heavy attacks on the southern Ukrainian port of Mariupol. According to Ukrainian sources, during the week-long siege thousands of civilians were killed and much of the city was destroyed. Mizintsev is also called “Butcher of Mariupol”.

Kremlin cracks down on opponents of mobilization

In Russia, the police continue to crack down on participants in protests against the mobilization, some brutally. According to the independent human rights organization OVD-Info, more than 730 people have been arrested. In Moscow alone there were more than 100 arrests at a demonstration. In St. Petersburg, videos were published on social networks showing men in combat uniform and helmets beating demonstrators. The human rights portal ovd.info, citing eyewitnesses, reported that security forces used electric batons. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin wants to draft in around 300,000 reservists to hold the areas still occupied in Ukraine after the Russian army was defeated.

First internal criticism of chaotic drafts

The Russian mobilization is also increasingly attracting criticism from supporters of President Putin. The editor-in-chief of the state broadcaster RT, Margarita Simonyan, railed against the chaotic actions of the authorities on her Telegram channel. “It has been announced that privates can be recruited up to the age of 35. The summonses go to 40-year-olds,” explained Simonyan. “They make people angry, as if they are doing it on purpose, as if they are doing it out of malice. As if they were sent from Kyiv.”

The head of the Kremlin Human Rights Council, Valery Fadeyev, said he had written to Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to “urgently resolve” problems with the mobilization. Telegram cited several instances of improper conscription, including nurses and midwives with no military experience.

New recruits allegedly supplied with ailing weapons

Severely outdated weapons are said to have been handed over to Russian fighters. This is reported by the Belarusian opposition media Nexta and has published several videos, some of which show rusted weapons. However, the authenticity of these videos has not been verified. It is also unclear whether the weapons should only be used for training purposes or also in combat.

Putin imposes tougher military penalties

Kremlin chief Putin, however, put an amended law into force on tougher penalties for deserters. Anyone who deserts during a mobilization or a state of war, for example, can be punished with up to 15 years in prison. Anyone who voluntarily becomes a prisoner of war – the Ukrainian government had called for it – can face up to ten years in prison. The new regulation passed Parliament last week. It also provides for faster naturalization when reporting for military service.

Russia invites German managers to mock referendums as “election observers”.

The boss of the Hessian energy supplier Energie Waldeck-Frankenberg (EWF), Stefan Schaller, is “election observer” at the forced referendums in several occupied areas of Ukraine. Of the “Hessian/Lower Saxony General” he confirmed the trip. The district and companies are now discussing how to proceed in crisis meetings. He wanted to “get a picture of the situation on site”. Among other things, because he “believes that objective information can never be wrong,” as quoted by the newspaper. The trip is purely private and has nothing to do with his work as managing director of the supplier. According to the Russian agency, Schaller held out mug in Melitopol. in one another tweet she quoted him as saying that the votes took place freely and without pressure on the citizens. The newspaper also reports that Schaller was already in 2021 in the Russian republic of Komi as an observer at the Duma elections. According to his own statements, he was invited then and now at the suggestion of the Russian Communist Party. Travel and accommodation were each financed by the Russian state.

Schulze also wants to fight corruption during reconstruction

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze wants to step up action against corruption in Ukraine during reconstruction. “Corruption was a difficult topic in the past,” she told the “taz”. To do this, they work “a lot with the municipal level and with several ministries”. This has proven itself. A total of 185 million euros in immediate construction aid has already been used, and a further 426 million euros have been promised. The funds flow into the development of electricity or water supply systems or into the construction of accommodation within Ukraine. In addition, the preservation of banking and social systems should be guaranteed. Many people in Ukraine currently have no income and are dependent on state services, Schulze said.

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