Major General Mikhail Gudkov, Deputy Chief of the Russian Navy and head of a brigade fighting against Ukraine, has been killed in a Ukrainian attack in Russia’s Kursk region. On Thursday, the governor of Russia’s Primorye region, Oleg Kozhemyako, confirmed the death of the Navy’s deputy chief.Several Telegram channels associated with Russian and Ukrainian military sources reported that a Ukrainian attack targeted a military outpost in Korenevo, Kursk region. The reports said the Ukrainian strike killed at least 10 Russian soldiers, including Navy Deputy Chief Gudkov. The Kursk region shares a long border with Ukraine.Since Moscow launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, only a few top Russian military officials have died in Ukrainian attacks. Major General Mikhail Gudkov is the latest senior Russian officer to be killed in a Ukrainian strike.Governor Kozhemyako said he had known Gudkov for many years. In a statement, he said Gudkov and other soldiers died while carrying out their duties as Russian military officers under enemy attack. He expressed condolences to the families of the military officials killed in the Ukrainian strike.“Even after becoming the Navy’s deputy chief, Gudkov personally visited our marine troops,” said Kozhemyako.Gudkov was awarded for bravery in the military operation against Ukraine. Ukraine had also accused him of war crimes. According to a Kremlin statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him as Deputy Chief of the Navy in March this year.However, neither Russia’s Ministry of Defense nor Ukrainian authorities made any immediate comments about the death of this top Russian naval officer in the Ukrainian attack.Gudkov was leading a marine brigade from Russia’s Pacific Fleet, and this brigade is currently fighting Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. In August 2024, Ukraine launched a surprise attack and captured parts of the Kursk region, but Russia later claimed to have regained control of those areas.
