As per reports, Russian President Putin appointed Captain-General Aleksandr Dvornikov as the overall in charge of the campaign against Ukraine.
As reports of the Russian force’s struggle in annexing key areas of Ukraine amidst fierce resistance come to light, new reports claiming Dvornikov as the mastermind behind the recent attack are surfacing. Recently, he was behind the Kramatorsk railway station attack killing a minimum of 52 including children.
Who is Aleksandr Dvornikov?
Aleksandr Dvornikov was commanding troops in the southern military district. The Rusian Souther military district is responsible for Crimea and the Black Sea regions. The Russian forces annexed Crimea in 2014. Born in Ussuriysk in 1961, he started his career in 1982 during the former USSR regime. He was key in leading the combined forces for bombing and air support campaigns in Syria.
“The appointment of this new general indicates Vladimir Putin’s intent to continue this conflict for months, if not years,” stated James Stavridis. Stavridis is a retired Adm. Moreover, his appointment is a sign of Russia streamlining its chain of command. The three previous commanders previously heading the war now have a central figure.
More on the Syria mission
Aleksandr Dvornikov is famous for leading the Russian task force in Syria in 2015. The “butcher of Syria” is known for ruthless tactics, vital in crushing the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Moreover, the 60-year-old has experience in commanding Russia’s tank and motor rifle divisions. In 2016 the Russian government conferred him with the title of “Hero of Russia”. According to the latest reports, Dvornikov is in charge of planning a way to annex Donbas from Ukraine. Additionally, according to a decree by President Putin, he was promoted to the army general in June 2020.
Back in Aleksandr Dvornikov’s mission in Syria, he was quick in establishing an airbase near the northwest coast. This was also instrumental in helping the bombers obliterate cities across Idlib province. Russian airstrikes were crucial in Aleppo’s fall. After all, the anti-aircraft batteries provided supremacy.