VLADIMIR Putin has lost his ninth general fighting in Ukraine after an attack on a military base.

The tyrant's war has taken a toll on Russia's army as Major General Andrei Simonov became the most recent top commander to die in battle.

Simonov, head of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, was reportedly killed near the city of Izyum in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, Kyiv Post reports.

Footage shared on social media appears to show the strike from a rocket salvo.

The attack also reportedly destroyed over 30 Russian armoured vehicles, including tanks.

Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said during an interview that about 100 Russians were killed in the attack, including Simonov.

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The news of the general's death was also shared by government advisor Anton Gerashchenko on his Telegram account.

He said that Simonov was the commander of Electronic Warfare of the 2nd army and used to be EW commander of the Western Military District.

The number of Putin's commanders who lost their life in Ukraine continues to rise, in a crushing blow to the Russian leader.

A total of nine Russian generals have now been killed in Putin's war alongside 36 colonels and 300 officers.

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Last month Major General Vladimir Frolov, deputy commander of the 8th Combined Arms Army, was laid to rest with full military honours in St Petersburg.

Previously Lieutenant-General Andrei Mordvichev, commander of the 8th Combined Arms Army, was killed in battle at Chornobaivka, near the southern city of Kherson.

Major General Andrei Kolesnikov of the 29th Combined Arms Army and  Vitaly Gerasimov, died in fighting.

Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky was reportedly shot dead by a sniper at the battle for Hostomel Airfield about 30 miles outside the capital Kyiv in early March.

And General Magomed Tushaev died when his Chechen special forces column, including 56 tanks, was obliterated near Hostomel, north-east of the city.

Major-General Oleg Mityaev, 47, died in Mariupol as well as Lieutenant General Yakov Rezantsev who also died in fighting.

Since the beginning of the invasion on February 24, Russia has lost over 21,000 but Moscow has failed to give accurate figures. 

Ukraine claims it has killed more than 23,000 Russian soldiers and destroyed more than 1,000 tanks, 2,400 armoured vehicles and 345 aircraft.

Yesterday dramatic footage showed the moment two Russian tanks were obliterated in a drone strike, believed to be from Ukraine's 503rd Naval Infantry Battalion.

Western officials have claimed one in four Russian units is no longer “combat effective” because of their devastating losses.

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