Russian Deputy Navy Chief Killed Ukrainian Missile Strike Kursk

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy and former commander of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, was killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on a Russian command post near Korenevo in Russia's Kursk region. The strike, confirmed by Russian officials including the Primorsky region governor Oleg Kozhemyako and Russia's defense ministry, resulted in the deaths of Gudkov and at least ten other Russian servicemen, including senior officers. Gudkov, who was awarded the Hero of Russia medal by President Putin in 2023 and promoted to deputy navy commander in March 2025, was recognized for personally visiting frontline troops and leading combat operations, but was also accused by Kyiv of war crimes during the conflict. The attack is one of the highest-profile Russian military losses since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, highlighting the intensified Ukrainian long-range strikes targeting senior Russian officers and command posts near the border. While Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility, similar targeted strikes have been acknowledged by Ukrainian security services in the past. The strike underscores ongoing fierce fighting and strategic efforts in border regions like Kursk amid continued tensions and military engagements in the conflict.