Russian Black Sea fleet commander Andrey Paliy has been killed amid the fighting in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, multiple news outlets reported Sunday.
Paliy, 51 was reportedly shot dead by Ukrainian forces near the embattled city of Mariupol, making him the first Russian naval boss and sixth high-up military leader to die since the Kremlin invasion of Ukraine started last month, according to Reuters.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of the occupied city of Sevastopol, confirmed Andrei Paly’s death in a statement through the online messaging service Telegram, US News reports.
The news comes as Russia intensifies attacks on civilian targets in the embattled country. According to The Washington Post, US intelligence estimates place the number of Russian troops killed or injured at up to 1,000 a day
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday said the increased attack on civilians and the use of more devastating weapons in Ukraine is a sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin attempting to “re-establish some momentum” amid reports that Moscow’s invasion has stalled. He also warned of Moscow potentially using chemical weapons, The Hill reported.
