A commander of one of the pro-Russian separatist battalions in eastern Ukraine, Mikhail Kishchik, was killed during fighting on Tuesday. Nicknamed "Misha Chechen", Kishchik was killed as Russian troops and separatist forces launched an offensive against the Ukrainian army in the east of the country. 

The news was announced by the Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Luhansk, Sergei Kozlov through posts on social networks. 

"Sad news from the front line. A Luhansk patriot, Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Kishchik, has died." 

Kozlov adds that Kishchik and his soldiers were surrounded by Ukrainian forces near the town of Kremina. 

"We are determining the number of killed and injured," he added. 

Kremina is one of the spots on the front line where Russian forces are trying to advance towards the larger cities of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, held by Ukrainian troops. 

Misha “Chechen” gained fame in 2014, when he headed one of the battalions who fought on the side of the self-proclaimed “LNR”. His division was repeatedly accused of looting in the territories that the battalion occupied, writes the publication.