The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has resulted in significant casualties within Russia’s military leadership, with at least 19 generals confirmed dead since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. This unprecedented toll has not only decimated the upper echelons of the Russian armed forces but has also raised serious questions about the effectiveness and strategy of military operations under Vladimir Putin. An investigation by the independent outlet The Insider, utilizing open-source data and reports from both Russian and Ukrainian sources, reveals that these generals have been lost to a variety of causes, including frontline engagements, strikes on headquarters, and even incidents within Russia itself.
The fatalities commenced almost immediately after the invasion began. The first confirmed death was that of Major General Andrey Sukhovetsky, who was shot by a sniper near Chernihiv just four days into the conflict. Sukhovetsky, aged 47, served as the deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army. Following his death, other high-ranking officials fell victim to the chaos of war; Major General Vladimir Frolov was killed by sniper fire in Mariupol, while Major General Andrey Simonov died when artillery struck a command post near Izium.
As the war progressed, the danger for commanders increased. In June and July 2023, Ukraine successfully targeted and killed Major General Sergey Goryachev, the chief of staff of the 35th Army, and Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, the deputy commander of the Southern Military District, in strikes on their headquarters in Prymorsk and Berdiansk, respectively. By late 2023, even those stationed further from the front lines were not safe; Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, aged 45, died near Krynky, reportedly due to shelling.
The scope of the losses extended beyond the battlefield. In December 2024, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s nuclear, chemical, and biological defense troops, was killed in a bombing in Moscow. This was followed by the deaths of Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik in an explosion in April 2025, and Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, who was killed in a car bombing in December 2025. These incidents highlight a troubling trend of targeted assassinations and sabotage attacks against senior military figures in Russia, suggesting a growing vulnerability within the military establishment.
Analysts point to the unusually young age of many of the fallen generals, most in their forties or early fifties, as indicative of the severe impact on military operations. The staggering losses have compelled Moscow to promote less experienced personnel and repeatedly shuffle command structures, resulting in a reliance on aggressive assault tactics rather than coordinated maneuvers.
The Insider notes that the actual number of casualties might be even higher. There are rumors surrounding the death of General Andrey Averyanov, who was allegedly killed aboard the Qendil, an oil tanker that was targeted by a drone in the Mediterranean. Averyanov, known for his role in the 2018 Novichok nerve agent poisonings in Salisbury, has not been seen publicly since. If confirmed, his death would mark the 20th general lost in this conflict, which has already resulted in over one million Russian soldiers killed or wounded.
The losses suffered by Russia’s military leadership illustrate a grim reality: this conflict is taking a profound toll not only on soldiers in the field but also on the commanders who are supposed to guide them. As the war continues, the implications for Russia’s military strategy and effectiveness remain significant.
