DROPPING LIKE FLIES
Ukraine ‘wipes out TWO of Putin’s generals in a single strike bringing death toll of top-rank Russian commanders to 12’
UKRAINE has reportedly wiped out TWO of Vladimir Putin's generals in a single strike - bringing the death toll of top-rank Russian commanders to 12.
Lieutenant General Roman Berdnikov, 47, and Major General Roman Kutuzov were allegedly killed in the same ambush in eastern Ukraine on Sunday.
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According to a report on Telegram by state TV reporter Alexander Sladkov, the two generals died after their convoy was ambushed on a bridge in Donetsk region.
Kutuzov's death has reportedly been confirmed by the Russians, but there has been no comment on Berdnikov.
Berdnikov, former commander of the Russian armed forces in Syria, would be the 12th general to have been killed in the war.
It means the two most senior Russian commanders in Donetsk would have been wiped out in one strike in a stunning setback to Putin.
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Sladkov said: "On the morning of June 5, Lt-Gen Roman Berdnikov, who led the Russian troops and units of the DPR from Donetsk, left with the headquarters on a working trip.
“On the way, presumably on a bridge, the vehicles of the headquarters were attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group."
Part of the Russian convoy was "destroyed or immobilised" - but some vehicles were able to escape the ambush and fled.
“After that, our sources reported that Roman Berdnikov died in this battle," Sladkov said.
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"A little later, two more sources confirmed this, specifying that other senior officers could have died during the battle."
He added: "We assume that Berdnikov was in one of the surviving cars, but died during the shelling.
"Those who escaped from the fire could not know the fate of those who remained on the bridge.
"They reported the attack and death of Berdnikov to the headquarters and that part of the convoy remained cut off and was under fire.
"It quickly became clear that Major General Kutuzov was among those remaining on the bridge.
"And as soon as the Russian military arrived at the battlefield, his body was also found."
Berdnikov - who previously served in Siberia - was seen less than a month ago at the Victory Day parade on May 9 at Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria.
He was quoted as saying: "Soldiers and officers of the Russian Armed Forces have been honourably defending Russia’s interests in the fight against international terrorism in the Syrian Arab Republic and during the special military operation in Ukraine, worthily continuing the victorious traditions of frontline heroes.
“We are worthy successors of battle-front veterans, the memories of whom were passed down through the generations."
Last month it was reported US intelligence is helping Ukrainian troops wipe out Russian generals.
As well as generals, at least 49 colonels have been killed so far in the Ukraine war.
Russian forces have intensified attacks to capture Sievierodonetsk - a key city in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
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Russia already classifies military deaths as state secrets even in times of peace.
It hasn't updated its official death toll in Ukraine since March 25, when it said 1,351 Russian soldiers had been killed since the start of its shambolic invasion on February 24.
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