Russian Navy Deputy Commander K!lled In Ukrainian M!ssile Strike

Russian Navy Deputy Commander Killed In Ukrainian Missile Strike
Russian Navy Deputy Commander Killed In Ukrainian Missile Strike

Ten other Russian servicemen were also killed in the attack on a command post in Korenevo, according to Russian and Ukrainian military Telegram channels.

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy commander of Russia’s navy, has been killed in a Ukrainian missile strike, becoming one of the most senior Russian military officers to be killed in more than three years of war.

Officials confirmed his death on Thursday.

Gudkov, who also commanded a brigade fighting against Ukraine, died in Russia’s Kursk region, according to the region’s governor, Oleg Kozhemyako, The New York Post reports.

Ten other Russian servicemen were also killed in the attack on a command post in Korenevo, according to Russian and Ukrainian military Telegram channels.

Gudkov was one of the Kremlin’s most senior officers to be killed since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He had been appointed deputy commander of the Russian Navy only in March.

“When he became Deputy Chief of the Navy, he did not stop personally visiting the positions of our marines,” Kozhemyako said in a statement.

He added that Gudkov was killed “carrying out his duty as an officer.”

At the time of his death, Gudkov was leading a Marine Brigade of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, which had been fighting in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine.

Gudkov had previously received honours for bravery during the war in Ukraine and had been accused by Kyiv of war crimes.