The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Russian generals, a significant loss that underscores the toll of the war on Russia’s military leadership. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, these fatalities highlight the severe human cost at the command level, as revealed by an investigation from the independent outlet The Insider. Utilizing open-source data along with reports from both Russian and Ukrainian sources, the investigation details the circumstances surrounding these deaths, which include frontline engagements, strikes on command centers, and incidents within Russia itself.
The first confirmed Russian general to die was Major General Andrey Sukhovetsky, who was killed by a sniper near Chernihiv just four days after the invasion commenced. He was 47 years old. In the ensuing months, other high-ranking officers also 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 his command post near Izium. Another loss came with the death of Lieutenant General Roman Kutuzov, who was directing operations near Popasna when he was killed.
The war has also seen generals perish in aviation accidents. Retired General Kanamat Botashev, aged 63, was shot down while piloting a Su-25 attack jet while engaged with the Wagner mercenary group. As the conflict continued, Ukrainian forces increasingly targeted Russian operational commands. In mid-2023, Major General Sergey Goryachev, who served as chief of staff of the 35th Army, died in a strike on a headquarters in Prymorsk. Similarly, Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, deputy commander of the Southern Military District, was killed in Berdiansk.
By late 2023, the war’s reach extended even to commanders stationed behind the front lines. Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, aged 45, was reportedly killed near Krynky, either from shelling or a landmine. The conflict escalated further into Russian territory by 2024, with Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s nuclear, chemical, and biological defense troops, killed in a bomb attack in Moscow in December 2024. Another significant loss occurred in April 2025 when Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik died in an explosion, followed by Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, who was killed in a car bomb incident in December of the same year.
Analysts have noted that many of these fallen generals were in their forties or early fifties, which is unusually young for military leaders. The continuing losses have forced the Russian military to promote less experienced officers, leading to repeated reshuffling of command structures and an increasing reliance on aggressive tactics rather than coordinated strategies.
The investigation by The Insider suggests that the actual number of general fatalities could be even higher. A rumor has circulated regarding the death of General Andrey Averyanov, 60, who was reportedly killed aboard the Qendil oil tanker, hit by a drone in the Mediterranean. Averyanov previously gained notoriety as the individual responsible for the 2018 Novichok nerve agent poisonings in Salisbury, UK. While there has been no independent verification of this claim, it remains notable that he has not been seen publicly since.
The ongoing conflict has claimed over one million Russian soldiers, both killed and wounded, illustrating a grim reality: the war in Ukraine is exacting a substantial price on Russia’s military leadership, leading to the harsh conclusion that the nation is, in essence, “eating its own commanders.”
