June 13 (Reuters) - A top Russian officer has been killed in a Ukrainian missile strike during Kyiv's counteroffensive against Russian forces, a Russian-backed official in Ukraine said on Tuesday, offering his condolences.
Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in part of the southern Zaporizhzhia region which is under Moscow's control, said Major-General Sergei Goryachev, Chief of Staff of Russia's 35th Army, had been killed on the Zaporizhzhia front on Monday where Ukrainian forces have been retaking some territory.
There was no immediate confirmation of the news from the Defence Ministry, which was first reported by "Voenkor Z," a Russian war correspondent and blogger.
During his career, he fought in the Second Chechen War, commanded a tank brigade, oversaw a Russian military base in Tajikistan and led Russian forces in Moldova's breakaway pro-Russian region of Transdniestria.
Reporting by Andrew Osborn Editing by William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Vladimir Rogov, Sergei Goryachev, Rogov, Andrew Osborn, William Maclean
Organizations:
Russian, Kyiv's, Russia's, Army, Defence Ministry, Thomson
Locations:
Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Chechen, Tajikistan, Transdniestria