Vladimir Putin has suffered a significant loss of 18 high-ranking military officers, including four colonels, who tragically perished in a fire at their command center during an operation conducted by Ukrainian forces.
Among the casualties was Colonel Ilya Makhotin, aged 45, who held the position of deputy chief of staff in the Rocket Forces and Artillery Department of the 35th Combined Arms Army. The incident is believed to have been a coordinated effort involving Ukrainian GUR military intelligence and operatives operating within enemy lines.
According to reports from the ‘I want to Live’ Ukrainian state Telegram channel, the fire was initiated near Putin’s 35th Combined Arms Army command post in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region by igniting dry grass which quickly engulfed the premises and underground structures, trapping the operational staff inside due to smoke and carbon monoxide.
While 13 officers’ remains were successfully removed from the burnt command post, the bodies of four others, including intelligence chief Lt-Col Sergey Konoyko, were inaccessible. The deceased included Lt-Col Dmitry Pashabekov, 48, and Lt-Col Ruslan Shigabutdinov, 34, along with six army majors.
The devastating incident occurred on August 30 but details have only recently surfaced, including the funeral arrangements for the fallen colonels. Ukraine’s Occupation Study Centre’s head, Petro Andryushchenko, praised the operation as a successful collaboration between GUR and the Mariupol Resistance.
The command post was completely destroyed in the blaze. Additionally, Ukraine dealt a severe blow to Russia by targeting the Gazprom Neftekhim plant in Salavat, Bashkortostan region, with two long-range drones, causing significant damage to a key oil-producing facility essential for Russian military supplies. Recent Ukrainian attacks have crippled a quarter of Russia’s oil production, leading to fuel shortages and price hikes.
Recent statements from the Russian President’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, have accused NATO countries of waging a war against Russia through their support for Ukraine. Tensions escalated further as Russian drones violated Polish airspace, prompting a strong response from NATO allies and warnings of potential conflict reminiscent of World War Two.
The incursions led to diplomatic protests, with the Russian ambassador to Bucharest summoned over airspace violations in Romania. The UK Foreign Office denounced Russia’s actions as unacceptable breaches of Polish and Romanian sovereignty, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.