Russia’s most senior commanders killed in one day

According to a group of independent journalists working on both sides of the conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin lost two of his most senior commanders in a single day in a deadly bridge ambush in eastern Ukraine.

Major-General Roman Kutuzov’s death was verified by Russia on Sunday, while further reports on Monday claimed that Lieutenant-General Roman Berdnikov was killed the same day in a Kyiv-led strike.

It’s been alleged that Moscow’s unusually quick confirmation of Kutuzov’s death was an attempt to hide the loss of Berdnikov, 47.

Berdnikov was commander of the Russian armed forces task force in Syria until he was transferred to take command of Putin’s forces and those of the Donetsk People’s Republic [DPR] in Donbas less than a month ago.

If his death is confirmed, he will become the war’s 12th general to be killed.

In a devastating and humiliating blow for Putin, it would mean that two of the most senior Russian commanders in Donetsk were killed out in a single strike.

The Volya Telegram channel, which features independent combat journalists operating on both sides of the fight, claimed that both Berdnikov and Kutuzov had killed.

‘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,’ said the post. ‘On the way, presumably on a bridge, the vehicles of the headquarters were attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group.’

Part of the convoy was ‘destroyed or immobilised’ but some vehicles, ‘having received serious damage and firing back, were able to escape from the ambush and leave,’ the post said.

‘After that, our sources reported that Roman Berdnikov died in this battle,’ the report continued. ‘A little later, two more sources confirmed this, specifying that other senior officers could have died during the battle.’

Later reports emerged that Berdnikov second-in-command Kutuzov had died.