Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency claimed that the country’s forces have killed a second Russian general within days of a first general killed last week.
Russian Maj. Gen. Vitaly Gerasimov was killed near Kharkiv, the agency said on Monday night local time. Ukraine’s second-biggest city has been the scene of intense fighting for days.
The claim could not be independently verified.
Gerasimov was identified by the intelligence agency as the chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army. Another senior officer from that army, Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky, was killed by a sniper last week.
Meanwhile, the prospect of a ban on Russian oil and gas sent jitters through energy markets as oil prices hit 13-year highs, though they gave back most of those gains.
Separately, Ukraine says Moscow is seeking to manipulate its cease-fire arrangement by allowing Ukrainian civilians to evacuate only to Russia and Belarus. Moscow claimed Monday that it will stop attacks in four Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, to allow the evacuation of civilians.
