Vyacheslav Savinov: Russia’s head of artillery intelligence reportedly killed in Ukraine

A colonel who headed Russian artillery intelligence has reportedly been killed in Ukraine.

Lt Col Vyacheslav Savinov, 40, died in a fierce battle last month, according to sources.

He is the 32nd Russian colonel or lieutenant-colonel to be killed in the war in Ukraine, highlighting the mounting losses to Vladimir Putin’s forces during the invasion.

In addition, seven Kremlin generals are reported to have died in Ukraine.

Savinov was deputy chief of staff of the Russian Missile Troops and Artillery. He is believed to have been killed in the south of Ukraine but no detail was given.

He had previously served in Syria, and was married with two sons.

He “died heroically” in Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, and had revived two orders of courage under a Putin decree, according to Russian news reports.

His funeral was held without publicity late in March.

Ukraine has estimated that 18,900 Russian soldiers have died since the beginning of the war. Russia has called the Ukrainian numbers inflated.