Former commander of invading Russian forces in Ukraine dies after ‘long illness’

Several Russian propaganda media outlets have reported this information, citing the Telegram channel of Khabarovsk Krai Governor Mikhail Degtyarev as their source.

Degtyarev said that Gennady Zhidko died in Moscow, reportedly following an extended period of illness.

Background. In 2016, Gennadiy Zhidko was the head of the headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria. In 2018, he became the commander of the Eastern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces. From November 2021 to July 2022, he was Deputy Minister of Defense - Chief of the Main Military Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.

In June 2023, news emerged indicating that Zhidko was appointed to lead the entire occupying group of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. He reportedly took over this role from General Dvornikov, who had been in charge of the group since April, when Russian forces were forced to withdraw from Kyiv.

After Zhidko's appointment, the Russian army suffered a series of major defeats: in August 2022, the Russians surrendered almost the entire Kharkiv region, and the situation in Kherson, which Russian troops had to leave in November, also deteriorated. In October, The Moscow Times reported that Zhidko was dismissed: he lost all his positions, including that of deputy defense minister.