Putin ‘loses ANOTHER top commander after Ukrainian storm shadow strike on Crimean airbase’
- Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko was the oldest of the ten soldiers killed
Vladimir Putin lost another general in his war against Ukraine earlier this week.
Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko, 63, was the eldest of 10 soldiers killed in a suspected Storm Shadow missile attack on Belbek air base in occupied Crimea.
He was commander of the base used for attacks on Ukraine and to consolidate Russia’s hold on the Black Sea Peninsula.
The missile attack is believed to have destroyed a Russian radar and communications facility and military equipment at the base near Sevastopol.
Unconfirmed reports say there was also some “collateral damage” to Russian fighter jets.
Russia has not officially announced Tatarenko’s death in the attack two days ago, but several pro-war Russian military Telegram channels confirmed initial reports.
Lt. Gen. Alexander Tatarenko, 63, was the eldest of 10 soldiers killed in a suspected Storm Shadow missile attack
Suspected Storm Shadow missile attack on Belbek military base
Suspected Storm Shadow missile attack on Belbek military base in annexed Crimea
Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko, 63 years old – first from left – was reportedly killed during a rocket attack in late January 2024 at the Belbek military airport in Crimea
Spy Dossier channel reported that ‘seven Storm Shadow/SCALP ALCMs of British-French make were launched towards the airport.
“Four were shot down by air defense forces, three hit the target.”
In particular, on Wednesday between 5:31 PM and 5:42 PM ‘two rockets hit the command post of the 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 80159, Belbek).
“Another hit the communications point at the airport.”
“Ten soldiers were killed as a result of the attack,” the report said.
“Among the dead is the commander of the aviation squadron of the fighter regiment, Alexander Tatarenko.”
Crimean Wind – a Ukrainian channel – reported: “Ten Russian soldiers were liquidated, including the commander of the aviation squadron, Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko.”
The missiles came via a new route, by sea, rather than by land, reports said.
Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko, 63 – second from left
Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko, 63 – marked – was reportedly killed during a rocket attack in late January 2024 on the Belbek military airport in Crimea
Lieutenant General Alexander Tatarenko pictured with his wife
Tatarenko is believed to be the thirteenth Russian general to die in the 23-month war.
He was married and reportedly retired before the war, but returned to service after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He graduated from the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School for Air Defense Pilots and Navigators in 1981, from the Military Academy of Air Defense in 1994, and from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in 2008.
Before his retirement, he was a pilot on Su-17, Su-27 and An-26 aircraft.
At the end of November, Russia lost 45-year-old Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps.
According to reports, he was killed by an exploding Russian mine.