Ukraine’s Defence Forces have killed Major General Anton Grunis of the Russian army, who in July briefed Vladimir Putin on the purported complete “capture of Kostiantynivka” in Donetsk region.
This was reported by the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi.
The operation was carried out by servicemen of the 427th Separate Regiment of the UDS, “Rarog”.
“As a man with a Hungarian surname, born in Ukraine, and fighting with the Birds for our Motherland, I report by voice through my mouth: General Grunis was eliminated by the Birds’ UDS ‘award’ retribution unit on 12 September 2026, in a night lair in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region,” Brovdi wrote.
He also called Grunis the seventh confirmed Russian commander at brigade, division or army level to have been killed by UDS units.
Earlier, Russian propaganda channels reported Grunis’s death, but the exact circumstances, date and place were not disclosed.
What is known about General Grunis?
- Grunis graduated from the Kazan Suvorov Military School in 1996. He took part in the wars in Chechnya and against Georgia. In 2021, the general retired to the reserve, but after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine he returned to the army.
- The 4th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (military unit 40318), which Grunis commanded, was formed in 2014 on the basis of illegal armed formations of the so-called “LPR”.
- This unit took part in fighting on the Bakhmut and Kostiantynivka axes. In July, Grunis briefed Putin on the purported complete capture of Kostiantynivka. A representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine later refuted the claim.
- On 28 August, Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported that Grunis had been awarded the “Gold Star of the Hero of Russia”.