Why Mordvichev is Important for Studying the Russian Army

In May 2025, Andrey Mordvichev replaced Oleg Salyukov as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces. Prior to his appointment, he commanded the Central Military District and the 'Center' Grouping of Forces, which led the offensive on Avdiivka and further west into Donetsk Oblast.

His career trajectory connects three levels of warfare: commanding an army in a major urban operation, leading a joint force grouping in a war of attrition, and transitioning to the highest position within a branch of the armed forces. This allows for an analysis of what results the Russian leadership rewards — but does not grant the right to attribute every order of subordinate units to Mordvichev personally.

Career: What Has Been Confirmed

Mordvichev was born on January 14, 1976, in Pavlodar. He graduated from the Novosibirsk Higher Military Command School, the Combined Arms Academy, and the Military Academy of the General Staff. Public biographies indicate his command of the 28th Motorized Rifle Brigade, service in the 41st Army, and his role as First Deputy Commander of the 8th Combined Arms Army.

By the start of the full-scale invasion, he commanded the 8th Army of the Southern Military District. In 2023, Mordvichev took command of the Central Military District and the 'Center' Grouping, was promoted to Colonel General, and after the capture of Avdiivka, received the title Hero of Russia.

Mariupol: Presence and Command Responsibility

Human Rights Watch established that units of the 8th Combined Arms Army and the coastal troops of the Black Sea Fleet actively participated in the battles for Mariupol. The organization also documented Mordvichev's presence in the city and included him in a list of ten Russian and Russia-affiliated officials whose possible role in serious violations of the laws of war requires investigation.

HRW documented numerous strikes, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and obstruction of evacuation and humanitarian aid. The organization's wording is cautious: Mordvichev needs to be investigated under the principle of command responsibility, and if evidence is found, held accountable.

This is stronger than a general accusatory text, but less than an assertion of a proven personal order for 'carpet bombing.' The public report does not contain a complete set of Mordvichev's orders for each attack. His command role, knowledge or duty to know about violations, and measures to prevent them must be proven separately.

Ukrainian Criminal Case

The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office reported that an indictment against Mordvichev has been sent to court in absentia. The investigation alleges that he directed the capture of Mariupol and ordered the assault on the Azovstal plant.

This is a specific procedural fact and an accusation, not an international verdict. The original article claimed that materials were transferred to the International Criminal Court for an arrest warrant, but did not provide a source. This assertion has been removed.

Avdiivka: Confirmed Command and Disputed Casualties

In autumn 2023, the 'Center' Grouping launched a large-scale offensive on Avdiivka. The initial mechanized assaults were accompanied by significant equipment losses, after which Russian forces continued pressure with smaller infantry groups, artillery, aviation, and constant localized attacks.

After Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city in February 2024, Vladimir Putin publicly congratulated Mordvichev as the grouping's commander. Sergei Shoigu visited the 'Center' command post, where Mordvichev reported on the situation. His responsibility for the overall concept and conduct of the operation is confirmed by official materials.

Estimates of Russian casualties varied by tens of thousands of people. Ukrainian officials, Western media, and unofficial Russian sources used different periods and categories — killed, wounded, or total losses. Therefore, the figure of '30,000 killed' from the original has been replaced with a formulation about heavy casualties without false precision.

What the 2025 Appointment Means

Reuters reported Mordvichev's appointment concurrently with his predecessor Salyukov's transfer to the Security Council. Official Russian publications presented the new Commander-in-Chief as a commander who achieved results in Mariupol and Avdiivka.

The appointment indicates that the Kremlin positively assesses his career and results. However, it does not prove that a single tactic has become the official doctrine for all Ground Forces. Such a conclusion would require statutes, training programs, organizational changes, and repeatable practices after the appointment.

The 'Center' Method: What Can Be Observed

In the Avdiivka and subsequent directions, Russian forces combined prolonged fire impact, glide bombs, FPV drones, mechanized assaults, and small group infiltration. Their resource advantage allowed them to maintain pressure after losses and seek out weak points across a broad front.

To label this exclusively as 'meat waves' is insufficient: the label obscures the artillery, aerial, and drone components. At the same time, the consistent acceptance of high casualties as the price for gradual advancement remains a significant characteristic of the campaign.

Unconfirmed Allegations Excluded from This Version

Assertions regarding a personal order to list the deceased as missing in action, Rosgvardiya blocking detachments to shoot retreating soldiers, Mordvichev's network of basements, and a 'battalion of daily losses' have been removed. The original text lacked documents or multiple independent testimonies linking these practices personally to the general.

Psychological assessments — 'Putin's favorite,' 'lack of ethical barrier,' and presenting thousands of daily casualties as his personal norm — have also been excluded. A dossier should evaluate actions and decisions, not guess internal motives.

Conclusion

Mordvichev is one of the most rapidly promoted Russian commanders of the full-scale war period. His units participated in the devastating siege of Mariupol; his grouping conducted a costly and ultimately successful operation for Russia against Avdiivka; he then received the highest position in the Ground Forces.

The most serious legal questions are related to Mariupol and require investigation under the principle of command responsibility, as indicated by HRW. The clearest military conclusion is related to Avdiivka: the Russian leadership rewarded the ability to maintain pressure until a territorial result was achieved, despite heavy losses.