Jake Sullivan, US National Security Adviser has said that the appointment of a Russian general dubbed the “Butcher of Syria” to oversee its war in Ukraine is “consistent” with its handling of the war.
General Alexander Dvornikov, 60, previously led Russian operations in Syria, where Russian forces have been accused of deliberate targeting of civilian areas. He’d previously also served in Chechnya.
Speaking to CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, Sullivan said he believes Dvornikov’s appointment is a sign Russia plans to keep up a “scorched earth” policy.
“We’ve seen atrocities and war crimes and mass killing and horrifying and shocking images from towns like Bucha and rocket attacks on Kramatorsk,” he said. “I think this [the general’s appointment] is an indication that we will see more of that.”
Moscow has denied any involvement in the deaths of civilians in Bucha and described reports of bodies being strewn around streets there as fake news.
But Sullivan’s assessment was echoed by General David Petraeus, a former director of the CIA.
“The Russians were known in Syria, basically for…’depopulating’ areas. That’s what they did to Aleppo,” Petraeus said on CNN. “That’s what they did to other areas. And I think we can expect that.”
BBC News
