Kolesnikov took part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was killed, according to the Ukrainian officials, on 11 March 2022.[3] NATO officials confirmed that a Russian commander from Russia's eastern military district became the third Russian general officer to be killed in the hostilities (after Andrey Sukhovetsky and Vitaly Gerasimov), but did not specify his name.[4] Western sources said around 20 major generals had been deployed to the Ukrainian front, of whom three have been killed.[5] Western sources said that more generals are being killed than usual because they are being pushed closer to the front line than usual to boost Russian soldiers' morale.[6] Ukrainian officials said a fourth major general, Oleg Mityaev, died on 15 March in Mariupol.[7]