Alexander Dvornikov: Meet The Brutal General #Putin Appointed As Commander For Ukrainian War—Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov as new theatre commander to direct the war in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Dvornikov,60, is the commander of Russia’s Southern Military District, CNN reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov as new theatre commander to direct the war in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
The city fell to Syrian government forces in December 2016.
Russian forces have used a similarly heavy-handed approach in parts of Ukraine, striking residential buildings in major cities and demolishing much of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.
Former UK ambassador to Russia Sir Roderic Lyne said Dvornikov has a “pretty savage track record in Syria”.
He has been saddled with the task to try to at least gain some territory in Donetsk that Putin could present as a victory on 9 May
MEET THE GENERAL
Dvornikov joined the Soviet Army in 1978 after graduating from the Ussuriysk Suvorov Military School. He then entered the Moscow High Command Training School, graduating four years later, after which Dvornikov served in the Far Eastern Military District. He then studied at the Frunze Military Academy, graduating in 1991. Dvornikov was sent to the Western Group of Forces, serving as a battalion commander in the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade.
In the late 1990s, he commanded regiments in the 10th Guards Tank Division and the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division. Dvornikov became chief of staff and then commander of a motor rifle division in the North Caucasus Military District. After graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff, he became deputy commander and chief of staff of the 36th Army. In 2008, Dvornikov took command of the 5th Red Banner Army.
After serving as deputy commander of the Eastern Military District, Dvornikov became the Central Military District’s chief of staff, serving as its acting commander for a month. In September 2015, he became the first commander of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria at the beginning of the Russian military intervention in Syria. Dvornikov was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation for leading the Russian military intervention in Syria and in September 2016 was appointed commander of the Southern Military District.
Dvornikov is believed to be behind the Kramatorsk railway station attack, that left at least 52 mostly women, children and elderly dead.
