Blast kills Russian veteran who led airstrikes on Ukraine port city
Zaur Gurtsiev, 34, received several medals for participating in Russia's grueling assaults on the cities of Mariupol and Avdiivka.
Authorities did not say what caused the explosion, but also did not rule out that Ukraine was responsible.
A string of high-profile Russian servicemen have been killed in Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.
Videos posted by Russian Telegram channels showed two men, one of them Gurtsiev, positioned in a residential neighborhood before a blast.
Kyiv has in some cases claimed responsibility or reveled in the attacks, calling them 'legitimate targets' given Moscow's three-year offensive has killed tens of thousands.
'Our hero, veteran of the special military operation and participant in the Time of Heroes program, Zaur Alexandrovich Gurtsiev, has died,' said Stavropol region governor Vladimir Vladimirov, using Russia's term for its Ukraine offensive.
'All versions are being considered, including the organization of a terrorist attack involving Nazis from Ukraine,' he added, echoing the Kremlin's claim that it is fighting neo-Nazis in Ukraine.
The veteran's 29-year-old acquaintance died alongside him, Stavropol law enforcement said.
The Time of Heroes is the Kremlin's program aimed to boost the careers of veterans stringently chosen to become part of Russia's future elite.
Gurtsiev was serving as Stavropol's deputy mayor.
He had commanded Moscow's air assault on the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, a bustling Black Sea city devastated by Russian airstrikes.
Russian forces rolled into Mariupol at the beginning of 2022 and imposed a brutal siege for nearly three months that resulted in 8,000 deaths, according to Human Rights Watch.
The siege included a deadly air strike on a theatre where civilians were hiding.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
10 minutes ago
- Arab News
Russia urges caution in nuclear ‘rhetoric' after Trump comments
MOSCOW: Russia urged caution on Monday after US President Donald Trump said he would deploy two nuclear submarines following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Trump said he had ordered the deployment in response to what he alleged were highly provocative comments by Medvedev, saying the submarines would be positioned in 'appropriate regions.' Trump did not say whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the locations, which are kept secret by the US military. 'Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including from AFP, on Monday. The row between Medvedev and Trump erupted against the backdrop of the US leader's ultimatum for Russia to end its military offensive in Ukraine or face fresh economic sanctions, including on its remaining trading partners. Medvedev — one of Russia's most prominent anti-Western hawks — accused Trump of 'playing the ultimatum game' and said that Trump 'should remember' that Russia was a formidable force. 'Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,' he said. Medvedev, who has not posted on social media since the spat, is currently the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. He served one term as president from 2008 to 2012, effectively acting as a placeholder for Putin, who was able to circumvent constitutional term limits and de facto remain in power. The chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday backed Trump's actions. 'The concept of peace through strength works,' Andriy Yermak wrote on social media. 'The moment American nuclear submarines appeared, one Russian drunk — who had just been threatening nuclear war on X — suddenly went silent.'
Al Arabiya
40 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump's envoy Witkoff is expected in Russia on Wednesday, TASS cites sources as saying
US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia on Wednesday, state news agency TASS said on Monday, citing Russian and US sources. Trump has set a deadline of Friday for Russia to agree to end the Ukraine war or face new sanctions. Developing
Al Arabiya
40 minutes ago
- Al Arabiya
US, Saudi Arabia hold high-level defense meeting at the Pentagon
US and Saudi officials convened at the Pentagon last week for a high-level forum to strengthen defense ties between Washington and Riyadh. The two-day meeting marked the 9th session of the Strategic Joint Planning Committee (SJPC), led by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby on the US side and Assistant Minister of Defense Dr. Khalid Biyari representing the Saudi delegation. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a critical, longstanding defense partner for the United States that seeks to grow more capable and self-reliant in its defense. We are working hard to partner with Saudi Arabia to enable it to do so,' Colby said in a post on X. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said both sides exchanged views on key defense priorities and regional security challenges. He noted that the delegations reaffirmed their support for the enduring bilateral relationship. Colby welcomed Saudi efforts to build up its self-defense capabilities and 'to make greater contributions toward achieving shared regional objectives,' Parnell added. The meeting came amid a series of recent US arms sales to the Kingdom. Earlier this year, the Trump administration approved a $3.5 billion weapons deal that included 1,000 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and 50 AIM-120C-8 guidance sections. Washington also cleared the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia in March. Separately, the top US military general for the Middle East announced last month that Saudi Arabia's first Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery had become fully operational. The current defense relationship builds on a broader framework established during President Donald Trump's first official foreign visit to Saudi Arabia in May. That trip resulted in the signing of $142 billion in Memoranda of Intent, which included major Saudi investments in the US defense industrial base. During last week's SJPC, Colby reaffirmed the Pentagon's commitment to deepening the defense partnership and 'encouraged rapid progress' on implementing the agreements signed in May. 'Both leaders recognized US-Saudi defense cooperation as a force multiplier for regional security, and reviewed opportunities to deepen cooperation,' said Parnell, the Pentagon spokesman.
