High-ranking Russian officer Colonel Nikita Klenkov was shot and killed near Moscow a week after returning from the war in Ukraine. Klenkov served as the deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces Training Center of the Russian Armed Forces, a unit connected to the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency. The assassination took place less than 20 minutes from the GRU Special Forces training center in Solnechnogorsk-2, where Klenkov was reportedly stationed.
This morning, a car was gunned down in the Moscow region, carrying a soldier who had recently returned from the war against Ukraine. It was later revealed that the killed serviceman was a high-ranking GRU officer and the deputy commander of the Special Operations Forces Training… pic.twitter.com/cHD04Knw1S
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 16, 2024
According to reports, Klenkov was attacked while driving a Hyundai Palisade. A gunman in another vehicle pulled up alongside his car and fired several shots through the window, causing Klenkov to lose control and crash into a fence. He died at the scene from his injuries. The assailant fled, sparking a police manhunt. The Russian Investigative Committee has not yet identified the perpetrator, though they are reportedly searching for a gray Mitsubishi Outlander that may have been involved in the crime.
Klenkov’s role as deputy commander of a GRU-linked special forces unit suggests that he was deeply involved in Russia’s military operations. His assassination comes amid a series of high-profile killings targeting Russian military personnel and collaborators, many of which have been linked to Ukrainian intelligence services.
Prominent Russian figures killed recently by Ukrainian intelligence include military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and ex-Ukrainian MP Ilia Kyva. As of press time, Ukrainian officials have not claimed responsibility for the assassination of Klenkov but the attack is believed to be part of a broader strategy by Ukrainian forces to undermine Russian military leadership and deter collaboration with Moscow.
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