A senior Russian army commander has been killed in fighting around Kharkiv, Ukrainian intelligence has claimed.

Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, first deputy commander of Russia’s 41st army, was killed on Monday, the chief directorate of intelligence of Ukraine’s defence ministry said in a statement.

He won medals for taking part in the Chechen war, the Russian military operation in Syria, and the annexation of Crimea.

If confirmed, Maj Gen Gerasimov would be the second Russian general from the 41^st to be killed in the past week. Andrei Sukhovetsky, also a deputy commander of the 41st army, was killed at the end of February.

For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our live blog: Russia-Ukraine live

Russia-Ukraine war: Everything you need to know

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is in its twelfth day, with the attacks beginning on February 24.

Since then, Ukraine has suffered widespread damages and loss of life amid Russia’s major bombing campaign.

More than 1.5 million people have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries, with the hopes that many more could escape via the planned humanitarian corridors.

However, the evacuation was cancelled after Russian troops were accused of breaching ceasefire terms, with the UK government suggesting it was a cover up to allow troops to regroup.

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Follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog for rolling coverage of conflict as it happens.

Ukraine says its forces have killed more than 11,000 Russian troops since the conflict began.

In their daily update, the armed forces said Russian troops are ‘demoralised’ due to heavy losses in manpower and military equipment – and are even deserting in some areas.

The statement said: ‘In general, the moral and psychological state of the enemy is low.’

President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the Ukrainian resistance effort on Tuesday, saying the war was ‘like a nightmare’ for Russia.

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