- By Shivangi Sharma
- Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:25 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Major General Mikhail Gudkov, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, was killed in a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Kursk region, officials confirmed on July 3. The strike reportedly targeted a Russian command post in the border district of Korenevo, a volatile area that has witnessed repeated clashes since the escalation of the war.
According to a report by Reuters, several Russian service members were also killed in the attack, including senior army officer Nariman Shikhaliyev, a close comrade of Gudkov. The information was confirmed by Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, who offered his condolences and praised Gudkov for his unwavering commitment to duty.
Tributes And Military Background
"When he became Deputy Chief of the Navy, he did not stop personally visiting the positions of our marines," Kozhemyako said, highlighting Gudkov’s frontline involvement. The governor added that Gudkov died "carrying out his duty as an officer," a remark that underscores the high-profile nature of his loss.
Gudkov had been active in military operations against Ukraine since 2022 and was considered one of the most senior Russian officers to be killed in combat. Before his death, he led a Marine Brigade of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, which was engaged in operations in the Kursk region, an area that briefly fell to Ukrainian forces during an offensive in August 2024 before being retaken by Russian troops.
Official Confirmation And Accusations
The Russian Ministry of Defence, quoted by state-run RIA news agency, confirmed: "During combat operations in one of the border areas of the Kursk region on July 2, 2025, Major General Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov was killed." While Gudkov had earned multiple honours for battlefield bravery, Ukrainian officials had previously accused him of involvement in war crimes, though no international charges had been filed.
The strike comes amid renewed offensives by both sides. On the same day, the Russian military announced the capture of Milove, a village in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, signalling the opening of a new front. President Putin has repeatedly praised Gudkov’s unit, the 155th Marine Brigade, for its role in repelling Ukrainian advances, particularly in Kursk.
Ukraine continues to push for increased Western aid, arguing that the pause in US military shipments has enabled Russian forces to advance deeper into Ukrainian territory. Russian troops are said to have penetrated up to 7 km into the Sumy region, while fierce fighting continues in Donetsk, where Russia aims to seize control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions entirely.
