Moscow — Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy head of the Russian Navy and a former commander of a marine brigade engaged in the war against Ukraine, was killed Wednesday during combat operations near the Russia-Ukraine border, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday, reported by Reuters.
Gudkov, 42, who was awarded a prestigious military honor by President Vladimir Putin in February, died “during combat work in one of the border districts of Kursk region,” according to a Defense Ministry statement. Kursk, a key border area, has witnessed intensified fighting following a Ukrainian offensive last August that briefly captured parts of the region before Russian forces reclaimed them earlier this year.
Unofficial reports from both Russian and Ukrainian military Telegram channels claim that Gudkov was killed in a Ukrainian missile strike using a U.S.-supplied HIMARS system targeting a Russian command post inside Kursk. Reuters has not independently verified these details.
As the senior officer in charge of the navy’s coastal and marine forces, Gudkov’s death marks a significant blow to Moscow, removing one of its highest-ranking commanders actively involved in the conflict. At least ten other senior Russian officers have been killed or assassinated by Kyiv since the war escalated in 2022.
In Vladivostok, the Pacific Fleet’s home port, mourners gathered to pay tribute, leaving flowers beside a portrait of Gudkov featured in a public exhibition honoring Russia’s military heroes. Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Primorsky region, expressed condolences and recalled Gudkov’s commitment to frontline visits even after his promotion to deputy navy commander in March.
Ukraine has yet to comment on the report, though Moscow accuses Gudkov and his units of war crimes—allegations Kyiv denies. As the conflict grinds on, Gudkov’s death underscores the growing human toll on Russia’s military leadership.
