A Russian general was reportedlykilled in occupied southeastern Ukraine, Ukrainian and Russian officialssaid Tuesday.Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov was targeted in a Monday night missile strike on a hotel in the Russian-occupied resort city of Berdiansk,according to Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to Mariupol's Ukrainian mayor now operating outside the Russian-held city.It was known for some time that the enemy's military leadership was living there, Andryushchenko said on the Telegram messaging app.Andrei Gurulyov, a member of the Russian State Dumas Defense Committee and a former military commander, confirmed Tsokovs death on a state-run political talk show that aired Tuesday evening.[Tsokov] died a heroic death, the lawmaker said.This man deserves enormous respect, he had unimaginable authority in the [Russian] armed forces, Gurulyov added.Russian military authorities have yet to comment on Tsokovs reported death.Western intelligence hasplaced the overall death toll of Russian generals in Ukraine at more than 20 as of February 2023.
The disproportionately high death rate of Russian generals and high-ranking officers has been linked to a number of causes, including their use of unsecured communications and movement to the front lines to boost soldiers' morale.Gurulyov also confirmed reports by pro-war military bloggers that Tsokov had been wounded in northeastern Ukraine in September.He was really badly wounded last year, he was barely pulled out and, in fact, did not have to return to the front due to his health condition, the lawmaker said.But he said 'No, guys, Ill be there'."Russian state mediasaid Tsokov was a veteran of military campaigns in the Caucasus and Syria.He was sanctioned by the European Union, Britain, Japan and New Zealandfor his role in Russias invasion of Ukraine.Tsokov was said to have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general by presidential decree in February.