Russian governor blown up by landmine becomes highest-ranking casualty of Ukraine war.
The deputy governor of a Russian region has been killed fighting in Ukraine, becoming the highest-ranking Russian official to die in the war.
Sergey Efremov, the deputy governor of Russia’s eastern region of Primorsky Krai, was killed returning to Russian lines from a battle with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Oleg Kozhemyako, the area’s governor, said in an emotional video that his deputy had died a hero, adding: “I know that his friends and comrades will do everything to avenge him.”
The Kremlin has encouraged officials to lead by example and sign up to fight – but most deploy to VIP drone units that stay well behind the front line.
It appears that Efremov, who trained as a soldier and graduated from the prestigious airborne officers’ college in Ryazan, took a different approach.
He set up a volunteer unit called the Tigers in June 2022, when Russia was on the back foot across Uk
The deputy governor of a Russian region has been killed fighting in Ukraine, becoming the highest-ranking Russian official to die in the war.
Sergey Efremov, the deputy governor of Russia’s eastern region of Primorsky Krai, was killed returning to Russian lines from a battle with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Oleg Kozhemyako, the area’s governor, said in an emotional video that his deputy had died a hero, adding: “I know that his friends and comrades will do everything to avenge him.”
The Kremlin has encouraged officials to lead by example and sign up to fight – but most deploy to VIP drone units that stay well behind the front line.
It appears that Efremov, who trained as a soldier and graduated from the prestigious airborne officers’ college in Ryazan, took a different approach.
He set up a volunteer unit called the Tigers in June 2022, when Russia was on the back foot across Uk
7 months ago
