Conflict in Ukraine: Demise of Russian Fleet's Deputy Commander - Russian Fleet Deputy Commander fatally wounded in conflict in Ukraine
Major General Mikhail Gudkov, a key figure in the Russian military, was killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack near the Russian-Ukrainian border on July 2, 2025. Gudkov, who held the position of deputy head of the Russian Navy and commander of the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, is the 13th general-rank officer confirmed killed during Ukraine's defense against Russia's full-scale invasion that began in 2022.
The tragic incident occurred in the Korenovo area of Russia's Kursk region, where a Ukrainian attack targeted a Russian command post. The strike reportedly resulted in the deaths of Gudkov, his deputy, and around 20 others, many of them senior officers.
Gudkov, before his appointment as deputy commander-in-chief of the navy by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in March, had commanded the 155th Marine Brigade. His responsibilities included coordinating Marine Corps and coastal battery rocket and artillery units.
The deployment of the brigade to Ukraine, which suffered heavy losses in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Vuhledar, indicates a broader involvement of the Russian military in the conflict. This development underscores the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Kyiv has accused the brigade of involvement in war crimes, which could lead to international scrutiny and potential sanctions against Russia. The heavy losses suffered by the Marine Corps suggest a significant Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion.
Oleg Koshemjako, the governor of the Pacific region of Primorye, confirmed Gudkov's death. Governor Koshemjako expressed his condolences to the region due to the losses in the war in Ukraine.
Severnnyj, a military blog, reported the death of Gudkov and the deaths of other high-ranking officers. The news of Gudkov's death has been met with shock and sadness across Russia and beyond, as he was one of the most senior Russian military officers killed by Ukraine since the start of the invasion.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-general-killed-ukrainian-rocket-strike-border-region-2022-07-02/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61693585 [3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/02/russian-general-killed-in-ukrainian-rocket-strike-on-border-region [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/02/world/europe/russian-general-killed-ukraine.html
The community and employment policies of Russia, being affected by the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, may see changes due to the increasing number of general-rank officers lost, like Major General Mikhail Gudkov who was killed in Ukraine's defense. Politics and general-news outlets, such as Reuters, BBC, The Guardian, and The New York Times, have reported the incident extensively, and the crime-and-justice sector may also be involved as Kyiv accused the involved brigade of war crimes.
