Russian general who briefed Putin on Kostiantynivka ‘capture’ is killed

The exact circumstances, date and location of the Russian general’s death have not been disclosed.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Aug. 28 that Defense Minister Andrey Belousov had presented Grunis with the country’s highest state award, the Gold Star of the Hero of Russia, “for courage and heroism displayed in the performance of military duty.”

Grunis’ unit was directly involved in fighting for Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, which Russian forces have been trying to capture since October 2025.

Astra reported that Grunis told Putin in July that the city had allegedly been fully occupied. A representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine later denied those claims.

Open-source information shows that Grunis graduated from the Kazan Suvorov Military School in 1996 before turning 17. He took part in the wars in Chechnya and against Georgia.

Grunis transferred to the reserves in 2021 but returned to the Russian military after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Under his command, Russian occupation forces operated in the Bakhmut and Kostiantynivka sectors.

The 4th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, military unit 40318, which Grunis commanded, was formed in 2014 from illegal armed groups of the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic.”

On Sept. 14, several Russian media outlets reported that Ukraine’s Defense Forces had likely killed Russian Lt. Gen. Sergei Milchakov, who led operations to capture Avdiivka, New York and other settlements in Donetsk Oblast.