Vladimir Putin has lost his 40th colonel in Ukraine, it was confirmed on Monday as he marked Victory Day in Moscow.
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Blinov, 42, was killed in March but reports at the time denied this and said he was alive.
Now his death is confirmed by a picture on his grave in Volgograd.
Nine generals are also known to have died with reports that the US has assisted Ukraine with intelligence to allow them to target Putin’s top brass.
A day earlier the death of Lt-Col Fezul Bichikaev, 36, a high-flying elite soldier killed on a secret intelligence mission, was reported.
Blinov was a married father of three and a family friend said: “For us it is just a shock.”
He served in a motorised rifle unit.
The actual toll may be higher since the defence ministry has not acknowledged most high ranking deaths, but details of known cases have come out from other sources.
