Crime

Russia remains silent on alleged killing of Putin’s top war commander in Crimea strike

Published

11 months ago

January 5, 2024

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Reports are circulating that Russian war commander General Valery Gerasimov may have been killed in a strike on a military command post near Sevastopol in Crimea.

The attack was carried out on Thursday, and although Ukrainian Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk praised the “impeccable combat work” of his crews in the attack, there has been no confirmation of Gerasimov’s death.

Local media has reported the possibility, but Ukraine’s Southern Defence Forces spokeswoman Nataliya Humenyuk has said that information is still being collected and will be made public with appropriate confirmation.

epa10967921 Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (L) and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov (2nd-R) and Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Sergei Rudskoy (R) attend a meeting at the headquarters of the group of forces taking part in the special military operation in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, late 09 November 2023 (issued 10 November 2023). On his way back from Kazakhstan, Vladimir Putin made a stopover in Rostov-on-Don, where he visited the headquarters of the Southern Military District and was briefed on the progress of the special military operation, shown new weapons samples of military hardware, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said. EPA/GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL / POOL MANDATORY CREDIT — Valery Gerasimov second right is a significant player at the Kremlin Picture EPA

The attack was reportedly carried out with a suspected Storm Shadow missile, with an explosion and smoke seen on video. Another military site in the village of Uyutnoye, near Yevpatoria in the Saki district, was also reportedly hit. There has been no comment from Russia on the claims, and there is currently no independent evidence that Gerasimov was in Crimea at the time of the attack nor that he was hit.