Mikhail Gudkov, 42, is without doubt one of the most senior Russian commanders to have died within the struggle.
The deputy head of the Russian navy, Mikhail Gudkov, has been killed in Russia’s Kursk area, the nation’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed. He’s one of the most senior Russian commanders to have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine greater than three years in the past.
The 42-year-old Gudkov, who was appointed to the place by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, died “throughout fight operations” within the border area on Wednesday, the state RIA information company quoted the ministry as saying on Thursday.
Unofficial Russian and Ukrainian navy Telegram channels recommended Gudkov and different Russian officers died on account of a Ukrainian missile assault on a command publish in Kursk.
Kyiv’s troops seized components of the Russian area in a shock offensive in August 2024. Though Moscow claimed in April to have totally recovered it, clashes within the space have continued.
Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the japanese Russian area of Primorye, the place the nation’s Pacific Fleet is predicated, mentioned Gudkov was killed whereas “finishing up his obligation as an officer”.
The regional governor added that the naval commander had, till earlier this 12 months, led the fleet’s a hundred and fifty fifth Guards Naval Infantry Brigade.
“When he grew to become deputy chief of the navy, he didn’t cease personally visiting the positions of our marines,” Kozhemyako mentioned on Telegram.
The affirmation of Gudkov’s loss of life got here as Moscow mentioned on Thursday that it had captured the villages of Razine and Milove in japanese Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military, which has not commented on the declare, mentioned earlier within the day that it was “steadfastly holding again” Russian makes an attempt to realize floor within the space.
In different developments, a Russian air strike on port infrastructure within the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Odesa killed two folks, authorities mentioned on Thursday.
The assault concerned a ballistic missile fitted with cluster munitions, in accordance with the regional governor, Oleh Kiper.
In the meantime, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Denmark on Thursday as Copenhagen assumed its six-month presidency of the European Union.
His Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, promised to assist Kyiv be part of the bloc, saying her nation would “do every thing … to assist Ukraine on its path in direction of EU membership”.
Zelenskyy introduced on Thursday that his nation had signed an settlement with United States firm Swift Beat to fabricate a whole lot of hundreds of drones this 12 months.
