Russian Army Commander Dismissed for Ukraine War Failures Dies in Moscow; General Zhidko Dead, General Behind 'Surovikin Line' Vanishes

Colonel General Gennady Zhidko, a former top Russian Army commander who was dismissed for failures in the Ukraine war, has died in Moscow at the age of 57. Zhidko served as Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria and was later appointed Commander of the Eastern Military District. He was removed from his post as commander of the Southern Grouping of Forces in October 2022 after Russia suffered heavy losses in the war. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.