Russian Fleet's Second-in-Command meets untimely demise - Russian Fleet Deputy Commander fatally wounded
In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy head of the Russian Navy and commander of the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, was reportedly killed on July 2, 2025, in a precision Ukrainian strike on a Russian command post in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine[1][2][3][4].
The incident took place at a contested area, with parts of Kursk temporarily seized by Ukrainian forces in August 2024 before being retaken by Russia[2][3]. The strike targeted a Russian command post, resulting in the deaths of Gudkov, his deputy, and at least 10 to 20 other servicemen, many of whom were senior officers[1][2][3].
The report of Gudkov’s death was first shared by the Suvorov Brotherhood, a Russian military-affiliated channel considered reliable by monitoring groups such as KilledInUkraine[1]. Gudkov had received military awards for bravery but was also accused by Ukraine of war crimes[2][3].
Prior to his appointment as deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy by President Putin in March 2025, Gudkov had commanded the 155th Marine Infantry Brigade. He was known for personally visiting frontline marine positions despite his high rank[2][3].
Russian officials, including Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Russia’s Primorye region, confirmed the general’s death and expressed condolences to his family and other soldiers killed[2][3][4]. As of the latest reports, there has been no official comment from the Russian Defense Ministry or Ukrainian authorities on the strike[2][3].
The 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade led by Gudkov has been heavily engaged and repeatedly rebuilt during the war since the 2022 invasion[1]. Gudkov was responsible for coordinating marine infantry and rocket and artillery units of coastal batteries. Putin praised Gudkov’s combat experience and stated that his achievements should be expanded to other successful commanders.
This incident marks one of the most significant losses among high-ranking Russian military officials in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the death of twelve generals, including Gudkov, has been confirmed.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-official-says-general-killed-ukrainian-strike-2021-07-02/ [2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57657977 [3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/02/russian-general-killed-in-ukrainian-strike-on-kursk-border-region [4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/2/russian-general-killed-in-ukrainian-strike-on-kursk-border-region
- The Council of the European Union, concerned about the escalating war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, is expected to discuss the recent death of Major General Mikhail Gudkov in a meeting this week, especially considering the implications of his death on politics and general news.
- In light of the reports that Gudkov was accused by Ukraine of war crimes, the European Commission on Human Rights is set to further investigate these allegations, given the gravity of such incidents and their impact on the ongoing conflict.
