A high-ranking Russian general serving as deputy commander of the navy, Major General Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov, was killed during “combat operations” in the Kursk region on July 2, 2025. This information was reported by Russia’s state RIA news agency.
Mikhail Gudkov, aged 42, had been serving in the military since 2000 and was awarded the title of “Hero of the Russian Federation” by President Vladimir Putin in 2023, which is the Kremlin’s highest honor. His death marks one of the most significant losses of senior military officials since Russia initiated its offensive against Ukraine in February 2022.
Oleg Kozhemyako, the head of the Primorye region in Russia’s Far East, stated that Gudkov “was killed carrying out his duty as an officer.” Kozhemyako, who had interacted with Gudkov frequently over the years, described him as a “strong-spirited fighter.” Prior to his role as deputy commander of the Russian navy, Gudkov was the commander of the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, based in the Russian Far East.
Despite his promotion, Kozhemyako noted that Gudkov continued to visit the positions of Russian marines in the field personally. The Kursk region has been a focal point of conflict; Ukrainian forces captured significant parts of it during a surprise offensive last year in response to Russia’s full-scale military campaign. Although Russia announced in April that it had fully regained control over the region, skirmishes in the border area persist.
