Reports of Denis Nikitin’s death in a Russian drone strike turned out to be a calculated Ukrainian deception. The twist not only exposed efforts to lure would-be assassins but also underscored the murky alliances and controversial figures shaping the war’s covert battles.

Ukraine's military intelligence claimed the bounty placed on Russian dissident Denis Kapustin, who was believed killed in a December 27 drone strike

Sarvarov is the third Russian general killed by an explosive device since last year. Previous blasts killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov and Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, the latter of whom was killed near his home in an explosion in April near Moscow.

Russian intelligence services had long hunted Kapustin, placing a $500,000 price on his head. After news broke of his supposed assassination, Moscow paid out the bounty, not realising the money

Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out a number of high-profile attacks against prominent Russians since Moscow invaded its neighbor nearly four years ago.

A Russian general was killed when a bomb detonated under his car in Moscow and investigators said Ukraine​ could be behind the attack.

Ukraine faked the assassination of Russian opposition leader Denis Kapustin to trick Moscow into paying a $500,000 bounty that funded the war effort.

Confidential complaints filed by troops and their families reveal patterns of wrongdoing in the ranks that are hidden from the Russian public.