Top Russian Commander Killed in Crimea Strike—Reports

A top Russian commander was killed in an attack on annexed Crimea by Ukrainian forces last week, it has been reported.

News of the death of Russian Colonel Vadim Nailyovich Ismagilov, commander of the 3rd Signals Intelligence Regiment of Russia's Aerospace Forces, comes after Ukrainian troops struck a command post of a Russian military unit near Sevastopol in Crimea on January 4.

The Chelyabinsk Higher Military Automotive Command and Engineering School, from which he graduated in 2003, said on social media platform VKontakte on Wednesday that a farewell to the colonel would take place in Chelyabinsk on Thursday at 11 a.m. local time.

The Ukrainian Military Center, a public organization, said the Russian colonel "was eliminated in Crimea." Krym.realii, the Crimean project of the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty, said Ismagilov's regiment was called the "eyes" of Crimea's air defense division.

Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov also reported Wednesday that the Russian colonel was killed in Ukraine's strike on Crimea on January 4.

"Elimination of Ismagilov means the destruction of the command point of the Russian Air Force, and shows that despite the concentration of all the latest tools, radars, anti-missile systems, [the] Russian Air Force is unable to protect even itself from the hits of Ukrainian aviation winged missiles," he wrote on his social media platforms.

Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment by email. The Kremlin hasn't commented on news of his death.

Kyiv said it had struck the command post and a military unit near the city of Yevpatoria in separate strikes on the Black Sea peninsula, which was annexed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014.

After the January 4 strikes, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk thanked the pilots and "everyone who planned the operation for perfect combat work" in a message on Telegram.

Russia said its air defenses shot down 10 guided missiles over Crimea, and that it had prevented an attempt by Ukraine's forces to carry out a "terrorist attack." Russia's Defense Ministry said it also intercepted 36 Ukrainian drones over the peninsula.

"It would be impossible to successfully solve the tasks set by the command without the radio engineering regiment, commanded by Colonel Vadim Ismagilov," Russian Major General Pavel Zhilavoy said in April 2023, as quoted by Nezavisimaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper.

"Figuratively speaking, this regiment is the eyes and ears of our unit. Its units detect enemy targets, guide them, and provide data for the anti-aircraft missile regiments of our division, the aerospace forces and air defense forces of the Southern District, the air defense forces of the Black Sea Fleet and other structures.

Zhilavoy added: "They are, one might say, the first to engage in battle with the enemy. And the outcome of the air battle largely depends on them."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to recapture Crimea, and attacks on the peninsula, and Putin's prized Black Sea Fleet, have been growing in intensity in the war that began with the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.

Update 01/11/24, 7:35 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.

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