The news of yet another Russian general being KIA makes me wonder

[herding cats]

It's not common by any stretch of the imagination for generals to be in a position to be KIA in modern warfare. They stay back and command from a safe distance so their expertise is utilized and they remain safe to lead another day. They do not normally put themselves in harms way. This seems to have become the norm post Vietnam.

So, why? Why are these generals where they are and being killed? Is it the troops aren't performing as anticipated and Putin has insisted they put their lives on the line, or what? I'm perplexed as to what's going on there.

Anyone here have any theories?

A third Russian general has been killed as the war intensifies, Ukraine claims

Ukrainian defenders have killed a third top Russian general as Russia's more than two-week war with Ukraine intensifies, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Friday.

Ukraine's military said in a tweet that they killed Russian Maj. Gen. Andrey Kolesnikov, believed to be the commander of the 29th Combined Arms Army.

"The Russian invaders continue to lose their officers in the war against Ukraine," Ukraine's armed forces tweeted as it announced the general's purported death.

https://www.businessinsider.com/third-russian-general-killed-invasion-ukraine-claims-2022-3

[Ocelot II]

1. My theory is that Ukraine has some very good intelligence sources

that know where and when to get at these officers. One general killed could be an accident; two might be coincidence; but three? They know where these guys are.

[herding cats]

6. That's a good point, they do appear to be able to find them somehow.

It's as if it's Russian general hunting season in Ukraine.

[Hortensis]

23. Yes. Their own from years of war with Russia, plus from others. nt

[uponit7771]

26. +1,

[LizBeth]

2. I was thinking the same.

[MineralMan]

3. Fragging entered my mind early on with regard to this.

It happens.

[herding cats]

8. That's always possible.

I hadn't considered that, but it is within the realm of possibilities here.

[cojoel]

21. "I told you that we shouldn't have shot Lt. Niedermeyer !"

From the Twilight Zone Movie

[Atticus]

4. Possibly, the reluctance to kill Ukrainians spread from the front-line grunts up the chain and

the Big Kahunas went forward to kick ass and take names.

As the saying goes: they "fucked around and found out" and now they're worm chow.

[nycbos]

5. I had the same thought they lossed theree generals in two weeks.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Putin must be furious, and forcing generals to the front lines to chew out the troops.

And take direct field command. Which is unprecedented.

Once out in the open like this, Ukraine snipers get them. Some here suggest there might be some fragging going on. Troops who are hungry, cold, no fuel, lied to and worthless paychecks might want some revenge. Especially if the officers are being verbally and physically abusive to them.

Yes the Ukraine intelligence services are excellent. Their snipers are pretty good too.

[herding cats]

11. This is pretty much my first guess.

Putin is furious and sending them in. Since then I've also read their communications in Ukraine aren't secure. Apparently for some reason their secure communication isn't working there for some beautiful reason. I hope that's true and we see more of these generals and high level officers being picked off.

[Irish_Dem]

13. We can well imagine Putin's intense fury at the initial failures.

And the phone calls to his generals.

Yes the Russian comm systems seem lacking. That is how some of the Ukraine military intelligence officers are finding the generals, then sending in the sniper team and taking care of business.

[tblue37]

15. Therefore communications depend on the 3G & 4G cell towers they have shelled into oblivion,

so they're forced to use insecure communications, which the Ukrainians have a field day with. This the high-ranking officers are forced to go forward to communicate and control troop movement.

[dalton99a]

9. A Russian general a week keeps the Russians away

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Poor operational security, lack of encrypted comms

Russian troop phone calls in Ukraine were intercepted after they used commercial phone lines to communicate.

The military was forced to use the unencrypted lines of communication after their own attacks on 3G towers broke the Russian government-built 'Era cryptophone' that was meant to be used to communicate.

https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/ukraine-russian-militarys-own-encrypted-phones-impacted-after-destroying-3g4g-towers-allowing-comms-to-be-intercepted/

[herding cats]

12. Thank you for this!

I heard they had secure communication problems, but wasn't aware they'd done it to their own selves. That's just divine Justice at its finest.

[Hortensis]

24. Oh, my. Seems emblematic in any case.

[sarisataka]

14. Several questions

Where are they being killed? At the front, while traveling, at command posts, rear areas...

How are they being killed? Drones, snipers, artillery, front line combat, heart attacks...

[Cattledog]

16. Pic of the dearly departed.

[Bev54]

17. I am wondering if Wali, the famous sniper, is at work?

[Chainfire]

18. It is just as likely that they are dying of failure to achieve objectives.

Russia has a long history of that. The Germans had a similar ailment, I think it is called Rommellitis. It looks a lot better in print if he died defending Mother Russia, then getting a bullet in the neck for failure.

[Cracklin Charlie]

19. Poor communications

Sending commanders to the front to direct the soldiers?

I think I read that the Russian took out the towers that would allow them to communicate.
Oops

[UTUSN]

22. Because we're back (if we ever left) in ancient days of primitive development.

[Elwood P Dowd]

25. Russian leaders have a long history of killing their own generals. They also have a history of

killing returning prisoners of war veterans.

[Deep State Witch]

27. Shot From Behind?

Gotta wonder if Gen. Kolesnikov was shot from behind by disgruntled troops.

[albacore]

28. Last words of Union General John Sedgwick ...

"Why are you dodging like this? They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!"

I suspect there is some serious sniping going on. Not supposed to salute officers in the field, but the arrival of a general or other high-ranking officer causes everybody to turn and look. Just shoot the central figure.
With modern sniper rifles, a mile is within range.