A top commander of Russian Navy was killed “during combat operations” in a region that borders Ukraine, the Russian army announced on Thursday.
Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy commander of the Russian Navy, had just been appointed as his position in March by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the state run Tass news agency.
“On July 2, during combat operations in one of the border areas of the Kursk region, deputy supreme commander of the Navy for Coastal and Ground troops, hero of Russia, Major General Mikhail Evgeniehich Gudkov, died,” quoted Russia’s army.
It is unclear how Gudkov was killed. Unofficial Russian and Ukrainian military telegram channels said he was being hit by a Ukrainian rocket attack, Reuters reported.
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A display shows flowers that are placed in front of a plate with a photo of Major General Mikhail Gudkov in the distant eastern city of Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Reuters/Tatiana flour)
The 42-year-old Gudkov was previously the head of the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet, according to The Moscow times.
He participated in military operations in the Russian North Caucasus and Syria, Tass also reported.
In his current role, Gudkov supervised the coastal and land troops of the Russian navy – including marine units – and is one of the highest military officers who died during the war against Ukraine, according to Reuters.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a plenary session of the 5th annual Forum Strong ideas for a new time organized by the Non-Profit Organizational Agency for Strategic Initiatives to promote new projects (ASI) in Moscow on Thursday 3 July 2025. (Ramil Sitdikov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Gudkov was previously accused by Ukrainian officials of committing war crimes, including the execution and decapitation of prisoners of war, Politico reported.
There was no immediate comments from Ukraine about the fate of Gudkov on Thursday.
The news about the death of Gudkov comes when the US has paused some weapons to Ukraine.
Major General Mikhail Gudkov was killed in the Kursk region in Russia, according to reports. (Reuters/Tatiana flour)
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The cancellation was driven by Defense Minister for Policy Elbridge Colby after an evaluation of American ammunition stocks that showed dangerously low reserves, Politrico reported for the first time.
