Russia general killed after Ukraine intercepted unsecured call: NYT

Ukrainian troops were able to intercept a call by a Russian general and kill him, according to The New York Times.

The paper cited two US military officials for the information. It did not name the general or give a location.

The report corroborates suggestions that the Russian military is using unsecured communications that Ukraine has been able to intercept.

Ukraine said it has killed four generals so far, an unusual toll for such senior officers.

The Times gave few details on the general whose intercepted call was said to lead to his death.

The paper reported, citing US officials: "the Ukrainians intercepted a general's call, geolocated it, and attacked his location, killing him and his staff."

A person close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Wall Street Journal that Ukrainian intelligence had set up a special unit to hunt senior Russian commanders. 

In announcing the death of Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, killed near Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials mentioned "significant problems with communication."

Appearing to demonstrate that point, Ukraine released audio purporting to show a Russian soldier reporting the death of Gerasimov to a superior.

In the call, the soldier said Russia's Era communications system had stopped working in Ukraine, forcing them to use unsecured lines.