Ukrainian ‘Sniper’ kills top Russian commander in Ukraine
A top Russian general was shot dead by a sniper in Ukraine, according to sources on Friday.
Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky was reportedly killed at the battle for Hostomel Airfield around 30 miles outside the capital Kyiv.
Hero Ukrainian soldiers fought off a Spetznaz special forces air assault there — and his loss could explain why Russian forces failed to secure the airfield plus why the assault on Kyiv stalled.
The elite para commander is the most senior officer known to have died since the Russian/Ukrainian engagement began on February 24.
News of his death came as the 40-mile convoy approaching the capital ground to a complete halt after getting bogged down in mud.
Putin confirmed that a general had died, after the Kremlin said 498 Russian soldiers had lost their lives in the conflict and more than 1500 had been injured.
Ukraine claimed the real Russian death toll was almost 20 times higher, with some 9,000 soldiers killed in action.
Officials in Kyiv also said more than 2,000 civilians had died during the days of shelling and airstrikes.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to “erase us all” with attacks on civilian targets.
The death of Gen Sukhhovetsky, 47, was announced by a Russian veterans’ group on social media by his colleague Sergey Chipilyova.
The Syria war veteran, commissioned as an officer in 1995, was commanding the elite 7th Guards Airborne Division. And a source said: “He was famed for leading missions in hostile territory.”
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