Top General Killed Fighting in Ukraine, Russia Admits

A high-ranking Russian general has been killed in Ukraine, Alexander Gusev, the governor of Russia's Voronezh region, said on Monday.

Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of Russia's 14th Army Corps, died "at a combat post in the [war in Ukraine]," Gusev said on his Telegram channel, without elaborating.

News of his death had been reported some days earlier by Ukrainian military officer Colonel Anatoly Stefan, on November 28, but hadn't been confirmed by Russian officials. The Kremlin rarely confirms the deaths of its top-ranking officials. The cause wasn't immediately clear, but some Russian Telegram channels said that Zavadsky blown up by a landmine in Ukraine. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment by email.

Russia has lost a number of high-ranking officers and generals in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zavadsky was reportedly the seventh Russian general to be killed in Ukraine, according to the "Mozhem Obyasnit" (We Can Explain) Russian Telegram news channel.

Independent Russian-language news outlet Mediazona previously reported that, by June 2, at least four Russian generals, 58 colonels and 176 lieutenant colonels had been killed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in February 2022. That figure included Major General Kanamat Botashev, Major General Vladimir Frolov, Major General Roman Kutuzov and Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky.

In June, the BBC Russian Service and independent Russian news outlet Mediazona both reported that, in the first month of Ukraine's counteroffensive, between June 4 and July 7, one Russian general, two colonels and three lieutenant colonels were killed in action.

"Bereavement. Piercing pain. Deputy Commander of the 14th Army Corps of the Northern Fleet, Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, died at a combat post in the special operation zone," wrote Gusev.

"From a young age, Vladimir Vasilyevich chose the calling of defender of the Fatherland and was faithful to it to the end. Wherever his homeland sent him, he showed an example of fidelity to duty, as evidenced by numerous awards," the governor added.

Gusev described Zavadsky as "a courageous officer, a true general and a worthy person."

"[He] will forever remain in the chronicle of the glory of the Fatherland," the governor said. "I grieve with my soul and heart. I convey my deepest condolences to Vladimir Vasilyevich's family, friends and colleagues."

Zavadsky graduated from the Moscow Combined Arms Command School, 1st Battalion, in 2000. Nine years later, he graduated from the General Military Academy of the Russian Armed Forces.

Zavadsky later served in the Russian military as deputy commander of a training tank regiment, deputy head of a training center, chief of staff of a motorized rifle brigade, commander of a motorized rifle brigade, and commander of a motorized rifle division.

Zavadsky was commander of the Kantemirovskaya Guards Tank Division, stationed in the Moscow region, from August 2018 to June 2021, and was deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps when he was killed.

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