Russian general Dmitry Ulyanov is killed in Ukraine in latest blow to Putin

Vladimir Putin has lost yet another general in the war in Ukraine, according to reports.

Major-General Dmitry Ulyanov, 44, had returned to active service after retirement as a commander in Russia’s illegal Ukrainian invasion.

He died in a firefight when he was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage group this week, say reports.

Previously Ulyanov was a top paratrooper, commander of the elite 98th Guards Airborne Division.

He went to the current war commanding a regiment of mobilised motorised infantrymen from Tatarstan.

Major-General Dmitry Ulyanov, 44, had returned to active service after retirement as a commander in Russia’s illegal Ukrainian invasion

He died in a firefight when he was attacked by a Ukrainian sabotage group this week, say reports

Slain Maj-Gen Dmitry Ulyanov, 44, had been in command of Russia’s elite 98th airborne division, seen here in 2019 on Red Square, Moscow

Ulyanov had earlier served as the Chief of Staff of the 7th Airborne Division, commander of the 1141st artillery regiment, and commander of the 98th Airborne Division, say open sources.

Ulyanov is the first such high ranked commander to be killed for many months.

A family friend posted that he had been the son of a commander.

‘Like his father did not sit in the rear, he went to the front line,’ said the eulogy.

Ulyanov is the first such high ranked commander to be killed for many months

The death means Putin, pictured via video conference on February 3, has lost at least ten such senior commanders

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a damaged residential building following a missile strike, in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine on February 5

This photograph shows a destroyed building remains in Chasiv Yar on February 5

‘Glory to the Hero! Glory to the Airborne Forces!’

The death means Putin has lost at least ten such senior commanders.

Reports last year named the following top brass killed in the war: Lt-Gen Yakov Rezantsev, 48, Maj-Gen Andrei Kolesnikov, 45, Maj-Gen Andrey Sukhovetsky, , Maj-Gen Vitaly Gerasimov, 44, Maj-Gen Vladimir Frolov, 54, Maj-Gen Andrei Simonov, 55, Maj-Gen Oleg Mityaev, 48, Maj-Gen Kanamat Botashev, 63, and Maj-Gen Roman Kutuzov, 53.

Several other earlier claims of high ranking officers killed in the war were not subsequently confirmed.

Russia’s other fallen generals 

General Magomed Tushaev: Chechen special forces leader who had led ‘anti-gay purges’ killed in an ambush near Hostomel on February 26, 2022 

Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky: Deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District killed during a special operation by a sniper on March 4, 2022

General Magomed Tushaev (right) was blown up in the early stages of the war by Ukraine after they joined the Russian invasion

Major General Vitaly Gerasimov: First deputy commander of Russia’s 41st army who took part in operations in Syria and Crimea, killed in fighting around Kharkiv on March 8, 2022

Major General Andrei Kolesnikov: Commander of the 29th Combined Army Army killed on March 11, 2022

Major General Vitaly Gerasimov (left) was first deputy commander of Russia’s 41st army, taking part in operations in Syria and Crimea. He was killed in fighting around Kharkiv on March 8

Major General Oleg Mityaev, died fighting near the city of Mariupol on 16 March, 2022

Lt Gen Andrey Mordvichev, killed in the Kherson region on March 19, 2022 

Lt Gen Yakov Rezantsev, commander of Russia’s 49th combined army, was killed in a strike near the southern city of Kherson on March 25, 2022 

Major General Vladimir Frolov was deputy commander of the 8th Guards Army in east Ukraine. His grave in St Petersburg was pictured in May

Major General Anton Siminov: A ninth Russian general was reportedly killed in a Ukrainian artillery strike near Kharkiv in May

Major General Kanamat Botashev, 63, was shot down and killed by Ukrainian forces 

Major-General Roman Kutuzov, chief of staff of the 29th Combined Arms Army, had his vehicle ambushed by Ukrainians before dying in a fight in Donbas, according to reports 

Lt Gen Yakov Rezantsev, commander of Russia’s 49th combined army. He was killed in a strike near the southern city of Kherson on March 25, 2022

The grave of Major General Vladimir Frolov in Serafimovskoe Cemetery, St Petersburg. The circumstances of his death remain unclear