Ukrainian officials said a fifth Russian general was killed during fighting near Kherson in the country’s south.
In a post on social media, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army stated that Russian Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev died as a result of a strike by Ukrainian forces on an airfield in Chernobaevka, near Kherson Airport.
The Kremlin has not confirmed Mr. Mordvichev’s death.
“The commander of the 8th military army of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Andrey Mordvichev, was killed as a result of a fire attack on the enemy,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a social media post.
They added: “Based on the fact that the enemy has suffered heavy losses in personnel, it is likely that the Russian military-political leadership will decide … to prolong the war.”
Ukrainian officials have said that Russia “continues to suffer significant losses” and that there is “low morale” among their armed forces.
Ukraine also said on Saturday morning that its fighter and anti-aircraft missile forces hit “12 enemy air targets: 2 aircraft, 3 helicopters, 3 UAVs and 4 cruise missiles.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that a fourth Russian general had died during the fighting.
Later, an adviser to the Ministry of Internal Affairs called him Major General Oleg Mityaev.
Analysts believe that about 20 generals are leading Russian operations in Ukraine, the BBC reports, so if all the alleged deaths are confirmed, a quarter of Russian generals will die in combat.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Major General Vitaly Gerasimov died.
(Ministry of Defense of Ukraine)
A person close to Mr. Zelensky told the Wall Street Journal that there is a military intelligence group in Ukraine that is working to bring out high-ranking Russian officers.
“They are looking for high-ranking generals, pilots, artillery commanders,” the source said.
Ukraine also reported the deaths of Major Generals Vitaly Gerasimov, Andrei Kolesnikov and Andrei Sukhovetsky.
It is alleged that Major General Andrey Kolesnikov was killed by Ukrainian security forces.
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However, Russia confirmed the death of only one military leader – Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky.
According to US intelligence reports, the Russian military has lost 7,000 people – more than the deaths of the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
Ukraine said on Saturday that more than 14,400 Russian soldiers had died in the war.
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