Russian commander killed in eastern Ukraine Food crisis reaches new heights: conflict exacerbates Burkina Faso crisis

Russian and Ukrainian state media report the death of a senior officer in the Russian army. It is said that he was the commander of a rifle brigade in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk. Several media outlets identified the killed army man as separatist Denis Ivanov. Russia’s state broadcaster “Russia 1” did not give the man’s full name, but confirmed that a commander known as “Tashkent” had been killed.

The exact circumstances of his death are unclear. According to Russian media, Ivanov was killed by a combat drone while sitting in a car. Ukrainian broadcasters reported that he died from a kamikaze drone or from a missile attack on a base in Luhansk.

“Russia 1” said that Ivanov was 42 years old and would celebrate his birthday next week. He received the “Hero of Russia” award and is the father of two children. “He was always at the front of the soldiers,” said the broadcaster, “he was a real fighter.”

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian government, wrote on Telegram that Ivanov was often praised by Russian propagandists for his role in the war against Ukraine. In their reports they referred to him as the “legendary brigade commander”.

Luhansk in eastern Ukraine is an area controlled by a separatist group. The self-declared are seeking secession from Ukraine and have officially benefited from military support from Moscow since Russia recognized these areas as independent. However, they do not represent the Ukrainian people who live or have lived in this region. A 2014 report by the UN Human Rights Commission documented the situation in the regions as a reign of violence and terror. (aj)