Russian general killed after Ukrainian forces destroy command post in Kherson

Another Russian general has been killed in Ukraine, the country’s military claimed Saturday, the fifth senior leader to fall since the invasion began 23 days ago.

Lieutenant-General Andrey Mordvichev, commander of the 8th army of the southern military district, was killed when armed forces destroyed a command post at an airfield in Kherson, a port city in southern Ukraine, officials said.

His death came as thousands of civilians attempted to flee another port city, Mariupol, which has been under bombardment for weeks, and as Ukraine’s president said Russia is trying to starve his country’s cities into submission.

Continuing the invasion would exact a toll on Russia for “several generations,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video posted overnight.

The comments were in part a response to a huge rally Russian President Vladimir Putin held Friday in Moscow. Though ostensibly held to support Russia’s forces, reports said many among the tens of thousands who packed the Luzhini Stadium said they were “forced” to attend.