Russian general who commanded separatists in eastern Ukraine killed in Syria
Russian general Valery Asapov was killed in Syria, as initially reported by the radio station Govorit Moskva (Moscow Speaks) with a reference to a source in the headquarters of the Fifth Army of the Russian Federation. According to their information, Asapov did not respond to attempts to contact him after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. It is assumed that he was killed in a mortar strike at the command post in Syria.
Later, information appeared on social networks stating that the incident occurred near Deir ez-Zor. General Asapov and a translator were killed.
According to Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Asapov served as the commander of the 1st Army Corps of DPR (from April 2015 to May 2016). The facts concerning Asapov’s participation in war crimes in the separatist-held territories of the Donbas were to be sent by Ukraine to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
In July 2016, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reported that Asapov had been awarded the rank of Lieutenant-General by the Russian military command.
The Russian Defense Ministry later confirmed the death of Asapov, reported RIA Novosti news agency.
“One of a senior group of Russian military advisers, Lieutenant-General Asapov, was at the command post of the Syrian troops, assisting the Syrian commanders in the liberation of the city of Deir ez-Zor, and was mortally wounded by mortar fire,” the Russian Ministry of Defense stated.
RIA Novosti reported that Asapov will be posthumously presented an award.