A feared Chechen warlord who loves wearing Prada and is one of Vladimir Putin ’s closest allies is believed to have taken charge of Russia ’s mission to blitz Mariupol.
Ramzan Kadyrov, known for his love of using cruel mediaeval tortures against his enemies, has been promoted to Lt-General in the national guard.
In the past the West has suspected him of ordering a number of extra-judicial killings outside Russia, which he has always denied.
His crimes are said to include human rights abuses and torturing his political opponents and gay activists.
The tyrant has now taken charge of Russia’s mission to wipe port city Mariupol - once the home of around 500,000 people- off the map.
Operativnye Svodki Telegram channel reported on March 28: "Sources close to the Chechen leader's entourage say that Ramzan Kadyrov is in Mariupol and personally leads the special operation."
A video shows him meeting and embracing General Andrey Mordvichev who was the fifth of Putin’s leading soldiers to die in Ukraine in the war, according to the Defence ministry of Ukraine.
Ruslan Geremeyev, a senior officer with the Chechen Interior Ministry, suspected of involvement in the 2015 assassination of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, is also said to be taking part in Russia ’s "special military operation" in Mariupol.
Kadyrov credited him with a key role in the mayhem that has seen much of Mariupol destroyed.
He said: “My dear brother Ruslan Geremeyev always completes tasks entrusted to him.
“He was assigned the most difficult sector in Mariupol and the commander completed the mission with flying colours...
“This time too, he lived up to his name of an experienced and fearless commander.”
Around 100,000 people are still trapped in Mariupol, which has been 90% destroyed after being pulverised by air and artillery strikes.
Surrounded by Russian forces, those doing their best to survive in the city have had no power, water or heat for more than a month.
Shops have been emptied of supplies and bodies of those killed in the incessant bombing raids either litter the streets or have been buried in makeshift graves.
It is feared as many as 5,000 have been killed in Mariupol where hundreds of corpses have been dumped in mass graves ordered by its council.
Mayor Boichenko said on national television: “The situation in the city remains difficult. People are beyond the line of humanitarian catastrophe.
"We need to completely evacuate Mariupol."
“The Russian Federation is playing with us. We are in the hands of the invaders."
