Two Russian commanders killed in eastern Ukraine

BY A STAFF REPORTER: In a rare announcement of the deaths of high-ranking Russian military officials in the war, Russia's Defense Ministry said two of its commanders had been killed on the battlefield in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The ministry did not say when they were killed.   

"Colonel Vyacheslav Makarov, commander of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade, personally led the battle. Another commander who died, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, conducted personnel activities, in another sector to resist enemy attacks. " 

"Colonel Yevgeny Brovko died heroically from multiple blows during a battle to repel an attack," the ministry said. "Ukraine has made extensive efforts to dismantle the defenses of our troops north and south of Artemovsk," the foreign ministry said.