At least 7 high-ranking Russian commanders have reportedly been killed since the invasion of Ukraine. The number of Russian troop deaths is still being disputed. But so far, the commander deaths have not been challenged. On Monday, western officials reported at least five generals had died in the conflict. And on Friday, 7 deaths have been reported.

High-ranking Russian commanders taken off the field

Russian Colonel Medvechek was reportedly killed by his own men according to Western officials. The brigade commander was in charge of the 37th Motor Rifle Brigade when he was deliberately run over by a tank. 

The 37th has suffered severe casualties with over half the brigade killed or wounded. 

An unnamed Western official claimed that "The brigade commander was killed by his own troops, we believe, as a consequence of the scale of losses that have been taken by his brigade." 

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych announced that Yakov Ryezantsev, commander of 49th Combined Arms Army was killed on the battlefield. Ryezantsev died in the Chornobaika region (North of Kherson) where intense fighting has continued all week.

Russia also reportedly lost large numbers of field-grade commanders. And over the weekend, a deputy Russian Black Sea Fleet commander, Andrey Paliy, deputy Russian Black Sea Fleet commander was killed by snipers outside the besieged city of Mariupol. Paliy was set to be promoted to a one-star admiral rank.

Russia casualty numbers contested

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Russian troops in Ukraine have suffered 2,870 deaths and around 3,700 injured. And claims that 572 Russian soldiers have been captured. Konashenkov says that media reports of "countless" losses among Russian troops "deliberate disinformation."

In the meantime, Russia is not commenting on the loss of 7 high-ranking Russian commanders.

NATO estimates that Russian forces are suffering from increasingly poor morale as they incur heavy losses in the fighting. The US has estimated that 7,000 Russians have been killed, out of an invasion force of about 150,000. And Ukraine has reported that up to 14,000 Russian troops have been killed.

Western officials are also estimating that as much as one-fifth of Russia’s original invasion force is “no longer combat effective.”  Satellite images showed an estimated 20 battalion troops invading Ukraine.

In 30 days of action a high number of losses of men and military equipment reflect the botched invasion. The Russians greatly underestimated the Ukrainian military resolve.