Latest news with #MikhailGudkov
ABC News
42 minutes ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Russian navy deputy commander praised by Putin killed near Ukraine frontline, Moscow says
A deputy commander of the Russian navy who was praised and promoted by President Vladimir Putin has been killed in action, Moscow has confirmed. Major General Mikhail Gudkov — who was handed the Kremlin's highest honour by Mr Putin in February and appointed to the top naval post — was killed "during combat work in one of the border districts of Kursk region" next to Ukraine, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. In charge of the navy's coastal rocket and artillery forces and all of the navy's marine units, the 42-year-old is one of the most senior Russian military officers to have been killed since Moscow launched its offensive on Ukraine in February 2022. Unofficial Russian and Ukrainian military Telegram channels reported that Gudkov had been killed — along with other service men and officers — in a Ukrainian missile attack on a command post in Russia's Kursk region with a US-made HIMARS missile. Reuters could not independently verify how Gudkov, whose call sign was 'Viking', died or what he was doing in Kursk. Some Russian war bloggers said he had been in overall command of marines advancing in Ukraine's neighbouring Sumy region. Oleg Kozhemyako, head of the Primorye region in Russia's Far East, said Gudkov "was killed carrying out his duty as an officer". At least 10 other senior Russian commanders have been killed in action or assassinated by Kyiv since the start of the war. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, which accused Gudkov and his subordinates of committing various war crimes, something that Moscow denied. Mr Putin singled Gudkov out for praise in March when he appointed him, saying that the 155th Marine brigade — which he commanded as part of Russia's Pacific Fleet — was an elite unit and one of the best Russia had. He tasked Gudkov with applying his knowledge and experience to increase the combat efficiency of the new forces under his command and of helping oversee a planned reorganisation of Russia's Marine corps. Russian war blogger 'Romanov Light' said Gudkov was regarded by troops as one of the most effective commanders and as one of the few to tell superiors the real situation on the ground, rather than what they wanted to hear. Before his promotion to the navy's top brass, Gudkov had led his marine brigade through fighting inside Ukraine, including in combat around Kyiv, and had taken part in the storm of the port city of Mariupol, before eventually going on to fight in the Kursk region. In the far eastern port city of Vladivostok — the home base of Russia's Pacific Fleet — mourners left flowers near an outdoor portrait of Gudkov — part of a photo exhibition celebrating officers Russia regards as military heroes. Ukrainian forces captured large parts of Kursk in a surprise offensive last year, which was a response to Russia's full-scale campaign against their country which began in 2022. Russia in April said it had fully recaptured the territory but clashes in the border region have continued. AFP/Reuters
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Top Russian naval commander latest general to be killed by Ukraine
A Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kursk region killed a decorated Russian naval commander, officials said on Thursday, the latest high-ranking general to be killed by Ukraine since the war began. Major General Mikhail Gudkov was the deputy commander in chief of the Navy and previously led a brigade battling Ukrainian
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First Post
4 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
'Strong-spirited fighter': Ukrainian strikes in Kursk kills Russia's top-ranking official
Mikhail Gudkov, 42, was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy who led a brigade that fought in Ukraine. He was killed in the Russian border region on Thursday read more A view shows flowers placed in front of a board with a photograph of Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy head of the Russian Navy who, according to local authorities, was recently killed in the Kursk region amid Russia-Ukraine conflict, at an exhibition of distinguished Russian soldiers' portraits in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, Russia, July 3, 2025. Reuters Ukrainian strikes in Russia's Kursk region killed the deputy chief of the Russian Navy, Mikhail Gudkov, authorities in the Primorsky region in Russia's far east have confirmed. This is one of the high-profile deaths in Russia's leadership as a result of Ukrainian strikes since the start of the war. Gudkov, 42, was the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy who led a brigade that fought in Ukraine. He was killed in the Russian border region on Thursday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'During combat operations in one of the border areas of the Kursk region on July 2, 2025… Major General Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov was killed,' Russia's state RIA news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying. Oleg Kozhemyako, head of the Primorye region in Russia's Far East, said Gudkov 'was killed carrying out his duty as an officer'. Kozhemyako said he had spoken to Gudkov 'a lot' over the years, praising him as a 'strong-spirited fighter'. He said Gudkov was a former commander of the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet based in the Russian Far East. The governor said that, even after becoming deputy commander of the Russian navy, Gudkov 'did not stop going out in person to the positions of our marines'. The deputy chief was appointed to the post in March last year by President Vladimir Putin, who said at the time, 'Since the minister and the Chief of the General Staff believe that your experience needs to be replicated in other units, I have decided to transfer you to a position - to increase your level of responsibility.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military had accused Gudkov and other members of his former 155th brigade of committing war crimes in the country, including killing civilians in the towns of Bucha, Irpin and Gostomel. Ukrainian forces captured large parts of Kursk in a surprise offensive last year – a response to Russia's full-scale campaign against their country, which began in 2022. Russia in April said it had fully recaptured the territory, but clashes in the border region have continued. With inputs from agencies
India.com
6 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Russia's Generals Are Dying: How Ukraine Is Taking The War Deep Inside Moscow's Ranks
Russia-Ukraine War: Major General Mikhail Gudkov had no warning. One moment, he was coordinating troop rotations near the Kursk front. The next, a Ukrainian missile slammed into his location. Russia confirmed his death on July 3. His rank made headlines. His name joined a growing list. Since the invasion began in February 2022, Ukraine has done more than resist. It has hunted. One by one, senior Russian military leaders have been killed – some in battle and some in bombings far from the front. Ukraine is not only striking tanks. It is dismantling the Russian war machine at its core and targeting the minds behind the missiles. Sukhovetsky was first February 28, 2022. Near Kyiv. Deputy Commander of Russia's 41st Army, Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, was hit. He was 47. He had fought in Syria and Georgia. His death stunned Moscow. Then came Frolov He was a deputy commander of the 8th Guards Army. Killed by sniper fire during Russia's siege of Mariupol in April 2022 at the age of 55. He had fought in Syria as well. He was buried in Saint Petersburg. Botashev killed in the skies May 2022. Luhansk. A former air force general, Kanamat Botashev, flew a combat mission and never returned. Retired. Then returned to war. Died at 63. Shot down mid-air. Kutuzov promoted after death June 2022. Luhansk again. Colonel Roman Kutuzov was leading his men when he was killed. He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant general. A rare gesture in Russia. Goryachev, Zaporizhzhia, missile strike June 2023. Major General Sergei Goryachev died in a Ukrainian missile strike. Chief of Staff of Russia's 35th Army, he was a decorated veteran of Chechnya and Moldova's Transnistria region. Another missile killed Tsokov July 2023. Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, mdeputy commander of the Southern Military District, died in Zaporizhzhia. Had survived one previous strike. The second was fatal. Zavadsky – the death no one agrees on November 2023. Some say he stepped on a Russian landmine in Kharkiv. Others say he was killed in action. Major General Vladimir Zavadsky's death remains unclear. Russia stayed vague. Klimenko – killed at a checkpoint November 2023. Donetsk region. Ukrainian drone strike. Major General Pavel Klimenko was 47. Russia confirmed his death. Ukrainian sources say he ran a torture camp. Claims unverified. Kirillov – bombed in Moscow December 2024. A car exploded outside his apartment. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was killed instantly. Ukraine's SBU claimed responsibility. Kirillov had led Russia's chemical weapons division. Ukraine blamed him for toxic gas attacks. Moskalik – killed in another blast April 2025. A car exploded in Balashikha, a suburb of Moscow. Deputy head of the Russian General Staff's operations directorate, Yaroslav Moskalik, was inside. He did not survive. Now, Gudkov Kursk. July 2025. Major General Mikhail Gudkov, former naval officer who was recently deployed to coordinate southern defenses, was killed by precision strike. Moscow confirmed the hit. The list keeps growing. Ukraine's war is no longer confined to trenches and drones. It is targeting the men in charge. Airbases. Checkpoints. Even homes in Moscow suburbs. No rank is safe. And each name erased is more than a battlefield casualty. It is a message. Ukraine is watching. Waiting. Striking.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Ukraine kills one of the highest-ranking Russian officers of the conflict
By Anna Chernova, Svitlana Vlasova and Ivana Kottasová , CNN The death was confirmed by Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the Primorsky region. Photo: AFP / Kim Won Jin The deputy chief of the Russian Navy has been killed by Ukraine in Russia's Kursk region, Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the Primorsky region in Russia's far east, said on Thursday (ukraine time). Guards Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy who also led a brigade that fought in Ukraine, was killed in the Russian border region that saw a successful Ukrainian incursion last year. He is one of Russia's highest-ranking officers to have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Kozhemyako previously handed Gudkov awards for bravery and said the two had spoken a lot over the years in a statement announcing the death. He described Gudkov as a "strong-willed warrior" who had "died while performing his duty as an officer together with his fellow soldiers". Kozhemyako did not provide any further details on the circumstances of Gudkov's death. Russia's Ministry of Defence confirmed Gudkov's death on Thursday, saying he was killed in combat in the Kursk region. There has been no immediate comment from Ukraine. Gudkov was appointed as the deputy chief of the Russian Navy for coastal and ground forces by President Vladimir Putin in March. Putin said at the time: "Since the minister and the Chief of the General Staff believe that your experience needs to be replicated in other units, I have decided to transfer you to a position - to increase your level of responsibility." The Ukrainian military had previously accused Gudkov and other members of his former 155th brigade of committing war crimes in Ukraine, including the killing of civilians in the towns of Bucha, Irpin and Gostomel in the early months of Russia's war. Separately, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has said the 155th brigade was involved in executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Russia has consistently denied committing war crimes in Ukraine, despite evidence gathered by the Ukrainians and international investigators. -CNN
