Rumors are circulating on social media that Russia’s top general, chief of defense Valeriy Gerasimov, was killed in an attack on the annexed Crimean peninsula on Thursday.
Now a former Ukrainian defense chief is commenting on the rumours.
Former Major General of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ihor Romanenko, warns against believing the rumors that the Russian defense chief was killed in the attacks.
– One should not live in the belief that Manna from the sky will fall on Ukraine, and that the military and political leaders (in Russia, editor’s note) want to die, he says in an interview with the newspaper The New Voice of Ukrainewrite Yahoo News.
“Manna” is one of many phenomena in the Bible, and is about something supernatural sent by God.
Claimed killed – Russia responds
– Will not change
In the interview, Romanenko says that several sources say that Gerasimov is in poor health, and that, like several political and military leaders in Russia, he abuses alcohol.
He believes that a possible death will not change much, as Putin has ruled Russia for a long time, and that this has led to what he calls a “collective Putin”.
– They will continue to carry out tasks in this war, both with and without Putin – even without military leaders, Romanenko tells New Voice of Ukraine.
The head of the Ukrainian intelligence service, Kyrolo Budanov, has not confirmed that Gerasimov died in the attack, writes the newspaper.
DESTROYED: Ukraine shares video of what is believed to be a new Russian radar system being destroyed. Video: Telegram @Karymat. Reporter: Vegard Krüger / Dagbladet TV. view more
– No evidence
The rumors are also mentioned by one of Russia’s largest newspapers, Kommersant.
They write that the information is false, and refer to the Telegram channel “War on Fakes». According to Kommersant, the channel is believed to be closely associated with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
THIRD MECHANICAL: Valeriy Gerasimov is the third most powerful in Russia’s defense, after Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Photo: Sputnik / AP / NTB Show more
– The creators of this latest fiction could not show any evidence. No photos or video are attached to the post, says a message in the group.
War on Fakes is referred to as one of the Russia’s largest propaganda channels and was created on the same day as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia further says that its air defense shot down ten enemy missiles over the peninsula on Thursday evening, thus averting what it calls a “terrorist attack” by Ukrainian forces.
– One person was injured after rocket parts fell on a house, says the Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozjajev.
According to the Russian authorities, this person should not be Gerasimov.
CROSSED BORDER: Ukrainian intelligence shares video of what is believed to be an attack in the Belgorod region of Russia. Video: Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine / GUR. Reporter: Vegard Krüger / Dagbladet TV. view more
Not seen in public
Gerasimov is said not to have been seen since 29 December.
Then he handed out awards to military personnel who distinguished themselves during the “liberation” of Marinka, in the occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine.
That’s what the newspaper writes Daily Mail.
There has been no verifiable information that Gerasimov has actually died in the Ukrainian attack, despite the flood of rumors on social media.
2024-01-08 02:31:39
#changed
