“Putting out his tongue” at Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, probably at the Kremlin itself, the Yevgeny Prigozhin?

The founder of Wagner PMC, announced that his paramilitary organization decided to offer the Mikhail Mizinchevcalled the “butcher of Mariupol” the position of its first deputy commander shortly after his dismissal by the Ministry of Defense.

Russian media reported that Mizinchev stepped down as deputy defense minister this week.

“Yesterday, at the council of commanders of the Wagner PMC, it was decided to offer Mikhail Evgenievich Mizinchev, General, the position of first deputy commander of the Wagner PMC “Dmitry Utkin” (aka Wagner)” Prigozhin said in Telegram.

Mikhail Mizinchev served as Deputy Minister of Defense in charge of Logistics from September 24, 2022.

When announcing the imposition of sanctions against Mizinchev last June, the European Union described him as the “butcher of Mariupol”, noting that he was responsible for “inhumane” siege of the Ukrainian city, which Russia says it is now rebuilding.

The reason remains unknown of his impeachment, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declining to comment and referring to the Defense Ministry.