2023-08-16 20:36:00
the mighty general Gennady Zhidko, one of Russia’s “best military minds”, died of a “prolonged illness”. The military commanded the Russian troops in the south of Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022, a senior position from which he was removed by the Russian president Vladimir Putin following he failed to conquer Kharkov.
Zhidko was 58 years old and was considered one of the most important soldiers in Russia. To such a level that he was chosen by Putin to lead the “military operation” in Ukraine through the command of the Southern Group of Forces, a position that lasted until last October. Since Putin displaced him, little is known regarding the soldier who received various decorations.
In the midst of a strong secrecy, the colonel general died on Wednesday, August 16, reported the Russian online news outlet Readovka. The news was confirmed by the governor of the Khabarovsk region in eastern Russia, who expressed his condolences.
However, there was no official announcement or further details that revealed where the soldier died. The only thing that was known is that he occurred following fighting a “prolonged illness”.
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“Hero of Russia”: Zhidko’s resume
Gennady Zhidko was born in Uzbekistan in 1965 and graduated from the Tashkent Higher Armored Infantry School in 1987. Since then he has served as Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria in 2016.
In 2018 he was named Commander of the Eastern Military District. The high-ranking official received the highest honorary title, “Hero of Russia”for his service in 2017, later becoming deputy defense minister in 2021.
In February 2022, Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and in April installed Zhidko, considered one of Russia’s brightest military minds, as commander of the Southern Group of Forces. His predecessor was the ousted general Alexander Dvornikov, also known as the ‘The butcher of Syria’.
Zhidko received international sanctions and was dismissed in October of that year, following he failed to seize Kharkiv, a strategic city in the south of the country.
He was eventually replaced by General Sergei ‘Armageddon’ Surovik too, a controversial figure who in Russia was associated with the coup planned by the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
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