The 63-year-old retired
general has been shot down by a Stinger missile while flying his Su-25 fighter
jet over Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, according to the BBC’s Russian Service.
Botashev’s plane was shot down
on Sunday and one of his former colleagues confirmed his death, according
to the report.
Botashev had reportedly been
on a mission to attack Ukrainian positions around Popasna, a town recently
captured by Russia.
If confirmed, the general will
join a growing list of Russian commanders killed by Ukrainian forces since
Russia invaded the country on February 24.
According to Ukraine’s defense
ministry, 12 Russian generals have been slain so far.
