Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, has been killed while serving in the Kursk Region, near the Ukrainian border, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday.
According to Russian authorities, Gudkov reportedly died in a Ukrainian missile strike that targeted a marines’ forward headquarters in the border region. His death was first publicly announced by the Governor of Primorye, Oleg Kozhemyako, who extended condolences to Gudkov’s family and the families of other servicemen believed to have been killed in the same attack.
“He was a strong-willed warrior who could not imagine himself anywhere except the navy,” Kozhemyako said in a post on Telegram. He added that despite his senior rank, Gudkov regularly visited marine units personally.
Major General Gudkov was appointed deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy in March 2025. Prior to that, he served as the commander of the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet. In 2023, he was awarded the title of Hero of Russia for his role in military operations and was commended for his bravery, leadership, and strategic contribution in what Russian officials described as the “liberation” of Kursk Region from Ukrainian incursions.
The Russian daily Argumenty i Fakty, citing unofficial sources, reported that the Ukrainian strike occurred on Wednesday and hit a forward-deployed field headquarters of the marines in Kursk Region.
There has been no official comment from Ukraine on the reported missile strike.
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