Putin’s tank commander becomes 58th Russian colonel to be killed in Ukraine invasion

A TANK commander has become the 58th Russian colonel to be killed in the Ukraine war. Lieutenant Colonel Yegor Meleshenko’s death was announced by officials in Berdsk, Siberia. Lieutenant Colonel Yegor Meleshenko has become the 58th Russian colonel to be killed in the Ukraine warEast2West They claimed he was killed “defending the residents of Donbas”. The 43-year-old is the latest high-ranking Russian casualty of the war where at least 11 generals have also perished. But experts say Vladimir Putin is unmoved by the scale of his losses, now believed to be well over 30,000, as he presses for a new land grab in the Donetsk region. Meleshenko’s funeral was held in Russia’s Novosibirsk region yesterday. READ MORE ON THE UKRAINE WAR WE’LL BE BACK President Zelensky vows to win back key stronghold captured by Russian forces 'THANK YOU' How kind-hearted Sun readers' donations are making a huge difference in Ukraine Berdsk mayor Evgeny Shesternin said: “He died defending the residents of Donbas and defending the interests of our motherland. “We express our deep condolences to his wife – Elena, children, relatives and friends of the hero.” Most read in The Sun 'RAPE' COPS SWOOP Prem star arrested at 3am on suspicion of raping woman on holiday in Med STOP THE BULLIES Kids at my son's school refused to sign his year book JUST PEACHY Casa Amor girl Cheyanne’s 8 week body transformation before Love Island villa COCO WHO Casa Amor’s Coco looks unrecognisable before Love Island villa NET GAIN We make up to £16,000 a FORTNIGHT flogging parking spaces – it's easy money 'DOG PILED' Love Island fans beg producers to step in as Casa Amor girls ‘gang up’ on lad