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The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports that two Russian generals have been killed in the last week. The digital team at Bellingcat confirms the reports of the general's death.

The Defense Ministry released audio which it claims is between two Russian officers. The call captures a conversation where the death of Gerasimov is reported. In its statement, the DIA of Ukraine said Gerasimov had been “liquidated” alongside “several senior Russian army officers.” 

Maj-Gen Vitaly Gerasimov, 41st Army commander, was one of the key leaders of the Russian invasion.

Just days ago, 41st Army’s deputy commander, Major-general Andrei Sukhovetsky died in the fighting. And pro-Putin Chechnya general, Magomed Tushayev, was also a confirmed casualty.

So far Russia has not commented on the deaths of the high-ranking officers. But there is international confirmation through Bellingcat and other sources.

UPDATE: The Ukraine Defense Ministry has estimated 12,000 invading Russian soldiers have died. The Ukrainians claim that 1,000 Russian soldiers a day have died. Russia has the numbers at much lower (400 Russian soldier deaths). The US estimates are somewhere in-between. It would be fair to say, no one has an accurate count of soldier deaths or citizen deaths on either side.

Bellingcat tracks the war in real-time

The Digital investigation team, Bellingcat has verified the audio call. And that Ukraine was able to pick up the call because of Russian a secure communications failure. 

 “The data obtained also indicate significant problems with communication in the occupier’s army and with the evacuation of their broken units” according to Ukraine DIA.

Bellingcat executive director, Christo Grozev, a former Naval intel officer, explains that Russia’s crypto phones may no longer work in Kharkiv. 

They became inactive because Russian forces destroyed surrounding cell phone towers. The Russian encrypted communications system is dependent on 3G or 4G which was transmitted via the cell towers.

“In the phone call in which the FSB officer assigned to the 41st Army reports the death to his boss in Tula, he says they’ve lost all secure communications. Thus, the phone call using a local sim card. Thus, the intercept,”  Grozev added.

The top brass casualties depict what Grozev calls a 'real disarray' within the Russian military.

Russia’s failure to protect its top-ranking officers shows the disorganization of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Bellingcat  is a high-tech digital investigation and news team. They have historically been focusing on Kremlin misinformation. 

With the current conflict, the team has created an open-source Russian Ukraine Monitor Map to track the developments of the war in near real-time.