Russia Ukraine War: Fourth Russian general killed in Ukraine conflict

Another Russian general has been killed in the fighting, according to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Although he did not name the officer, a Ukrainian interior ministry adviser said Maj Gen Oleg Mityaev was killed by the far-right Azov Battalion.

Ukrainian media reported that Gen Mityaev was killed near Mariupol. He is the fourth Russian general to be reported killed, prompting some to wonder why such senior military figures are stationed so close to the front lines. Analysts estimate that around 20 generals are leading Russian operations in Ukraine, implying that one-fifth of Russia’s generals have been killed in action if all reported deaths are confirmed.

Because of the high number of casualties, some experts believe that the generals were not simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that Ukraine is likely targeting top-ranking Russian officers. “This is not an accident, in my opinion. One is an accident, but the rest are planned “, Georgetown University’s Rita Konaev said.

A source close to President Zelensky told the Wall Street Journal that Ukraine had a military intelligence team dedicated to targeting Russia’s officer class. “They’re looking for high-profile generals, pilots, and artillery commanders,” the source said. With Ukraine’s military outmanned, Ms Konaev believes that targeting high-ranking officials could be an important part of the information war.

Maj Gen Oleg Mityaev is said to have died near Mariupol, a city in southeast Ukraine that has seen some of the most intense fighting so far. The far-right Azov Battalion claims responsibility for his death. He was the commander of the Russian army’s 150th motorised rifle division, which was formed in 2016 and is based near the Ukrainian border in the Rostov region. Although Russia denies that its military was involved in fighting in separatist-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, Ukraine claims that the unit was created to participate in the conflict there.

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