Vladimir Putin was today hit by the death of Russia’s 11th general in his bloody war with Ukraine.
Major-General Roman Kutuzov was the chief of staff of the 29th Combined Arms Army, according to reports.
His vehicle was ambushed by Ukrainians and he died in a fight in Donbas, say sources.
His death is the 11th general, but the first such high ranking army officer in more than a month.
In addition, at least 49 colonels have been killed in the war with Ukraine.
The latest was Lt-Col Zaur Dimayev, deputy commander of the 4th battalion of the Akhmat Kadyrov special forces regiment.
He was a close associate of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
In 2020, Kutuzov was head of the headquarters of the combined arms formation of Russia’s sprawling Eastern Military District.
The previous general to be killed was Kanamat ’Flop Gun’ Botashev, 63.
He was a “pensioner pilot” who was hit in his Su-25 after coming out of retirement to fly in Putin’s forces.
He was reportedly shot down by a Ukrainian Stinger missile.
There have been unconfirmed claims that Western countries are assisting Ukraine to target high-ranking Russian officers.
Russian sources say Kutuzov was killed in the area of Nikolaevka settlement, in the Popasnyansky district of the Luhansk People’s Republic, close to the frontline.
Last month it was claimed Putin could be 'running out of missiles' as his generals are turning on each other to avoid being purged, it has been reported.
Just 10 weeks into the invasion and Putin's forces are said to be firing more missiles than they expected to because of how the war has dragged on.
Britain's Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told TalkTV : "He potentially has a problem because the rate of expenditure and the toughness of the fight is totally different to the one that he perceived on February 24.
"I think there are several wars going on. There's a tactical, geographical war going on in Ukraine.
"There's a logistics war going on, in terms of how you maintain that rate of expenditure.
"We're talking severe impact on their armed forces.
"We’ve had 25% of their forces effectively being taken out - either through people being killed or through the damage to their battalion tactical groups.”
He added that Putin is under "incredible pressure" to deliver a victory for Russia.
The admiral's comments come as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Putin's generals are "turning on themselves" to avoid becoming the scapegoat amid the failed operation.
