Russian General Involved in Ukraine Conflict Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances

Russian Army General Gennady Zhidko, who reportedly served as the top military commander for Ukraine last year, has died at the age of 58 after a long illness. Zhidko was the overall theater commander during Russia's offensive against Lysychansk and Severodonetsk in the summer of 2022. His death was announced by the governor of Russia's Khabarovsk territory, but no official announcement has been released. Zhidko's appointment as commander in Ukraine was never officially confirmed, but he was seen sitting next to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a visit to forces involved in the war. Zhidko was previously the head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces and received the Hero of the Russian Federation award for his role as Chief of Staff in Syria. He was dismissed as theater commander in October 2022.