Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has appointed Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev as commander of the Ground Forces, replacing General Valery Gerasimov. Mordvichev’s rapid rise began with his 2023 takeover of the Central Military District and promotion to Colonel General just seven months later. His battlefield record includes directing the capture of Mariupol and employing brutal “meat assault” tactics to seize Avdiivka in Donetsk in February 2024. For these so called successes, the dictator awarded him the Hero of Russia star and praised gains around Pokrovsk.
Known for embracing new technology, Mordvichev has pioneered drone use in frontline operations. Observers such as Rob Lee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute note that as Ground Forces commander he is now the leading candidate to succeed Gerasimov—either as chief of the General Staff or field commander in Ukraine. Carnegie Endowment expert Dara Massicot has also highlighted his combat experience and growing influence among Russia’s military elite.
Mordvichev was present at the surrender of Mariupol’s defenders and recuperated at a Pirogov sanatorium in annexed Crimea after a hospital stay. Ukrainian prosecutors and Human Rights Watch accuse him of ordering war crimes during the sieges of Mariupol and Azovstal, including deliberate attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. He is said to have met with pro‑Russian militants and Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov to plan the final assault on Mariupol.
Russian pro‑war channels have expressed unease at his appointment, seeing it as a sign of the dictator’s intent to prolong the war despite mounting casualties. Within Russia, dissatisfaction is growing as the elite and ordinary citizens alike question the human cost of this campaign.
