Monday 6 June 2022 09:43 AM Ukraine war: Putin 'loses two of his most senior commanders in one day' trends now
Russian President Vladimir Putin lost two of his most senior commanders in a single day in a devastating bridge ambush in eastern Ukraine, a group of independent journalists working on both sides of the war have claimed.
Russia confirmed the death of Major-General Roman Kutuzov on Sunday, but new reports on Monday said Lieutenant-General Roman Berdnikov was killed on the same day in an attack carried out by Kyiv's forces.
It has been suggested that the unusual speed with which Kutuzov's death was confirmed by Moscow was an attempt to cover up the loss of Berdnikov, 47.
Less than a month ago, Berdnikov was commander of the Russian armed forces task force in Syria, and he was moved to take charge of Putin's forces and those of the Donetsk People's Republic [DPR] in Donbas.
If his death is confirmed he will be the 12th general to have been killed in the war.
Reports on Sunday said that Lieutenant-General Roman Berdnikov (pictured) was killed in Ukraine, the second Russian general to have been reported killed on the same day
Russia confirmed the death of Major-General Roman Kutuzov (pictured) on Sunday
It would mean the two of the most senior Russian commanders in Donetsk were wiped out in one strike in a stunning and embarrassing setback to Putin.
The claims that both Berdnikov and Kutuzov died came from the Volya Telegram channel which has independent war journalists working on both sides of the conflict.
'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.
Volya stated that it trusted its sources that both generals were killed, Kutuzov by a bridge in Donetsk region, and not at the location in Luhansk Region specified in early Russian reports.
'It is logical that they both rode in the same convoy and both were ambushed,' said the report. 'Part of the convoy was able to escape. We assume that Berdnikov was in one of the surviving cars, but died during the shelling.
'Those who escaped from the fire could not know the fate of those who remained on the bridge. They reported the attack and death of Berdnikov to the headquarters and that part of the convoy remained cut off and was under fire.
'It quickly became clear that Major General Kutuzov was among those remaining on the bridge. And as soon as the Russian military arrived at the battlefield, his body was also found.'
Berdnikov, a former Russian commander in Syria, was 'killed in Donbas' on June 5, according to Volya Telegram channel. Pictured: Roman Berdnikov at the Victory Day military parade at Khmeimim Air Base on May 9, 2022
The report stated: 'What Russian commanders had in their hands [was] two dead generals, one of whom led an entire army grouping in Syria [until May], and then played an important role in commanding the entire grouping in eastern Ukraine.
'The Russian Armed Forces had not yet lost two generals in a day in Ukraine.
'It is clear that the Ukrainian 'saboteurs' will not be silent and will tell about the successful attack.
'They do not know that they also managed to kill Berdnikov, because they saw the body of only Major General Kutuzov.'
The channel surmised that Russia 'loudly and publicly' announced the death of Kutuzov, in an attempt to mask the loss of 'the much more famous and important Berdnikov'.
Bernikov, who previously served in Siberia, is seen on video less than a month ago taking the salute at the 9 May Victory Day parade at Russia's Hmeimim airbase in Syria.
He was quoted as saying: 'Soldiers and officers of the Russian Armed Forces have been honourably defending Russia's interests in the fight against international terrorism in the Syrian Arab Republic and during the special military operation in Ukraine, worthily continuing the victorious traditions of frontline heroes.
'We are worthy successors of battle-front veterans, the memories of whom were
