The Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Agency is claiming that Russian Major General Vitaly Gerasimov has been killed in fighting outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Their report is allegedly based on the interception of Russian military communications which also revealed communication, control, and evacuation issues impacting the Russian Ground Forces outside of Kharkiv.
This is NOT Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov, Russian General of the Army, the current First Deputy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Vitaliy Petrovich Gerasimov — made general-major in command of the Aleysk-based 35th MRB in the Central MD.
But it might be a coincidence of surname. It’s common.
The younger Gerasimov was born on July 9, 1977 — making him a general officer at the tender age of 38 years and 11 months at the time of his promotion from Colonel in 2016. He’s a native of Kazan and graduated from the higher tank command school in that fascinating ancient city on the Volga. At the time of his death, he was serving as chief of staff of the 41st Combined Arms Army. According to unconfirmed sources, he was killed by sniper fire.
Another Russian general, Andrei Sukhovetsky, also a deputy commander of the 41st army, was reported killed at the end of February.
Be advised this is reporting from the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency and is subject to scrutiny until confirmed by third parties or the Russian Federation.
