General named as second commander to die in invasion

Ukraine’s military intelligence said yesterday that Ukrainian forces have killed a Russian general near the besieged city of Kharkiv, the second Russian senior commander to die in the invasion.

Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, first deputy commander of Russia’s 41st army, was killed on Monday, the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine’s defence ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine’s defence ministry said Gerasimov had fought with Russian forces in Syria and Chechnya and had taken part in the seizure of Crimea in 2014.

It was not possible to confirm the death independently. Russia has not commented.

Another Russian general, Andrei Sukhovetsky, also a deputy commander of the 41st army, was reported killed at the end of February.

His death was confirmed by a local officers’ organisation in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia. The circumstances of his death were not clear.

Sukhovetsky, 47, began his military service as a platoon commander after graduating from a military academy and steadily rose through the ranks to take a series of leadership positions. He also took part in Russia’s military campaign in Syria.

Ukraine says its forces have killed more than 11,000 Russian troops. Russia has confirmed about 500 losses. Neither side has disclosed Ukrainian casualties.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that no conscripts or reservists were fighting in his country’s war on Ukraine, only professional soldiers.

In a statement issued on International Women’s Day yesterday, Putin said he understood the concerns of the mothers, wives and relatives of soldiers deployed in Ukraine.

“You can be proud of them, the way the whole country is proud of them,” Putin asserted.

He promised there would be no calls for reservists to join the effort. “The tasks are undertaken only by professional soldiers. They will ensure security and peace for the people of Russia.”