Kremlin confirms death of Russian navy deputy head in blow to Putin

The Kremlin has confirmed the death of Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy head of the Russian Navy, in the border area of Russia’s Kursk region, the TASS state news agency reported on Thursday

Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of a far eastern Russian region, had said earlier on Thursday that Gudkov, who once led a brigade fighting against Ukrainian forces in Kursk, had been killed.

Unofficial Russian and Ukrainian military Telegram channels had reported that Gudkov had been killed along with 10 other servicemen in a Ukrainian attack on a command post in Korenevo in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

He is one of the most senior Russian military officers to have been killed by Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.

Kozhemyako, who said he had spoken to Gudkov a lot over the years, said in a statement that Gudkov had been killed “carrying out his duty as an officer” along with others, and expressed his condolences to the dead men’s relatives.

“When he became Deputy Chief of the Navy, he did not stop personally visiting the positions of our marines,” Kozhemyako said on Telegram.

Gudkov had received awards for bravery in military action against Ukraine and been accused by Kyiv of war crimes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him deputy commander-in-chief of the Navy in March, according to a statement on the Kremlin’s website.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian Defence Ministry or from Ukraine.

Gudkov had led a Marine Brigade of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, which had been fighting in Kursk. Parts of Kursk were seized by Ukrainian forces in a surprise offensive in August 2024 before Russia said earlier this year it had driven them out.