Ukraine says it killed Russian general weeks after he received Hero of Russia title
A Russian major general who had reported the capture of the Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike weeks after receiving Russia’s highest honorary title, according to Ukrainian and Russian sources.
Maj. Gen. Anton Grunis was killed on Sept. 12 in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast, Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said on Sept. 16.
Brovdi said the strike was carried out by the 427th Rarog Unmanned Systems Brigade. Russian pro-war media and a Telegram channel associated with graduates of Russia’s Suvorov military schools have also reported Grunis’ death.
Grunis commanded Russia’s 4th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, which has been fighting around Kostiantynivka. He had previously reported that Russian forces had captured the city, although Ukrainian troops remain present there and Russia does not fully control it.
In late August, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov presented Grunis with the Gold Star medal accompanying the Hero of Russia title for what the Russian Defense Ministry described as “courage and heroism” in military service.
Grunis had also participated in Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Brovdi said Grunis was the seventh Russian commander at brigade, division or army level whose killing had been confirmed as the work of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
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