Major General Mikhail Gudkov, one of Russia’s top naval officers, was killed on July 2 during a Ukrainian missile strike that targeted a Russian command post near the border town of Korenevo in Kursk Oblast. The incident marks the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes against high-ranking Russian military personnel.
Gudkov was reportedly inspecting frontline positions near the Sumy border when the strike occurred. Russian military bloggers and veteran groups claimed the attack involved four missiles, striking the forward command post of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade. According to Russian officials and media sources, at least ten other officers were also killed in the strike.
The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged Gudkov’s death but gave few details, stating only that he died during “combat work.” The announcement was echoed by Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Primorsky region, who praised Gudkov as a dedicated officer who died while performing his duties.
Gudkov had a long association with the 155th Brigade, having previously served as its commander. The unit played a major role in the siege of Mariupol in 2022, during which large portions of the city were reduced to rubble. Thousands of civilian deaths were reported during the months-long assault. For his role in Mariupol, Gudkov received the Hero of Russia award from President Vladimir Putin and was later promoted to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy in March 2025.
The 155th Brigade has endured repeated losses throughout the war. Reports from BBC and other outlets indicate that hundreds of its soldiers have been killed, with many more wounded or unaccounted for. The unit was redeployed multiple times and saw action in several heavily contested regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kursk.
Ukrainian officials have not officially confirmed responsibility for the strike, in line with a broader policy of not commenting on operations inside Russian territory. However, the use of U.S.-supplied HIMARS rockets has been cited by Russian sources as the likely method of attack.
Gudkov becomes the 11th Russian general confirmed killed since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The list includes officers lost to missile strikes, landmines, car bombings, and drone attacks. Ukraine’s intelligence services have taken credit for some of these targeted operations, including the assassination of General Igor Kirillov, a senior chemical weapons commander, in Moscow last December.
Public response in Russia has included memorial events, particularly in Vladivostok, the home base of the Pacific Fleet. Gudkov’s portrait has been displayed alongside other decorated officers, and residents have laid flowers at temporary memorials.
The pattern of Ukrainian strikes against senior officers highlights the ongoing risks faced by Russian commanders operating near or within conflict zones. Russian generals have often taken positions close to the front in an effort to influence tactical decisions, a practice that continues to result in elevated exposure.
While Moscow has confirmed 11 general officer deaths, Ukraine claims the number is higher. The broader impact of these losses on Russian military planning and morale remains uncertain, but the deaths of senior figures like Gudkov draw renewed attention to the evolving nature of the war.
This image is the property of The New Dispatch LLC and is not licenseable for external use without explicit written permission.
