Russia has not commented on rumors that Putin’s top military commander, General Valery Gerasimov, was killed in a Ukrainian missile attack in Crimea.

Russia has not yet commented on unconfirmed rumors that Vladimir Putin’s top military commander, General Valery Gerasimov, was killed in an attack on a military command post in Crimea on Thursday.

An explosion and a plume of smoke were seen in a fragment of a suspected storm shadow attack on the military complex in Yukharin Balka. Another target in the village of Uyutnoye near Yevpatoria was also reportedly hit.

Ukrainian sources reported a flood of ambulances at both locations, and Putin-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said: “It was the most massive.” [attack] recently.’

Gerasimov has not been seen since December 29, when footage showed him presenting awards to “military personnel who distinguished themselves in the liberation of Marinka” in Ukraine’s occupied Donetsk region.

Russia has not yet commented on unconfirmed rumors that Vladimir Putin’s top military commander, General Valery Gerasimov (pictured), was killed in one of the attacks.

General Valery Gerasimov with Vladimir Putin

Ukrainian media reported on the rumors and the air force commander in Kiev, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, praised the “impeccable combat work” of his teams.

However, Ukraine has not publicly claimed that 68-year-old Gerasimov – who is also Putin’s first deputy defense minister – was at the command post or that he was killed.

Nataliya Humenyuk, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Southern Forces, said: “We are currently collecting the information that interests you. After proper confirmation it will be published.

“At this stage we can only say what is already known: the checkpoint has been hit.”

The rumor of Gerasimov’s death appears to have started circulating after a Russian Telegram channel called Ordinary Tsarism published an unconfirmed message.

It said: “According to preliminary information, Valery Gerasimov, who was at a command post near Sevastopol at the time of the attack, was killed in the attack in Crimea.”

The message then disappeared and the sender provided no evidence to back up the claim.

Putin’s top military commander and head of Russia’s armed forces has not been seen since Dec. 29, when he presented military awards.

The rumor of Gerasimov’s death appears to have started circulating after a Russian Telegram channel called Ordinary Tsarism published an unconfirmed report

There is no independent evidence that the general – an enemy of slain warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin – was in Crimea or that he was hit in the Crimean attack

The Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind said: “The media writes that Valery Gerasimov died in yesterday’s attack in Crimea.”

“He is the chief of the general staff of the Russian army and the first deputy minister of defense of Russia.”

“At this stage, the information has not been officially confirmed.”

RBK-Ukraine reported: “Today, information spread on the Internet that the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, was killed, allegedly as a result of yesterday’s attacks in Crimea.”

There is no independent evidence that the general – an enemy of slain warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin – was in Crimea or that he was hit in the Crimean attack.

Shortly after the strike, Oleshchuk was quoted as saying: “I thank them again [Ukrainian] Luftwaffe pilots and all who planned the operation for their impeccable combat work.”

He warned that Russian propaganda could provide misleading depictions of the attacks.

“I expect the same epic report on enemy propaganda from Sevastopol and Evpatoria on January 4 [as on earlier denials of Ukrainian strikes],’ he said.