The best commander of the Russian Navy Mikhail Gudkov is killed near Ukraine

A high commander of the Russian navy was killed “during combat operations” in a region bordering Ukraine, the Russian army announced on Thursday.

Major-general Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy commander of the Russian Navy, had just been appointed to his post by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March, according to the Staff TASS press agency.

“On July 2, during combat operations in one of the border areas of the Kursk region, the chief commander of the navy for coastal and land forces, hero of Russia, major-general Mikhail Evgevielich Gudkov,” said the Russian army.

We don’t know how Gudkov was killed. The unofficial channels of Russian and Ukrainian military telegrams said it was affected by a Ukrainian missile attack, Reuters reported.

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A view shows flowers placed in front of a board with a photograph of the great general Mikhail Gudkov in the extreme East of Vladivostok, in Russia, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Reuters / Tatiana Meel)

Gudkov, 42, was previously the chief of the naval infantry brigade of the Russian fleet of the Pacific Russia, according to Moscow times.

He participated in the military operations of the Caucasus in northern Russia and Syria, Tass also reported.

In his current role, Gudkov supervised the coastal and land forces of the Russian navy – including the marine units – and is one of the highest military officials to die during the war against Ukraine, according to Reuters.

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Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks during a plenary session of the 5th annual forum of strong ideas for a new period organized by the non -profit organization agency for strategic initiatives to promote new projects (ASI) in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (Ramil Sitdikov, Spoutnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Gudkov has already been accused by Ukrainian officials of having committed war crimes, in particular the execution and beheading of prisoners of war, Politico reported.

There was no immediate comment Thursday from Ukraine on the fate of Gudkov.

The news of Gudkov’s death occurs while the United States has interrupted arms expeditions to Ukraine.

Fox News confirmed on Wednesday that the United States had ceased to send weapons such as Patriot Interceptors missile and 155 mm artillery shells.

Major-general Mikhail Gudkov was killed in the Kursk region in Russia, according to reports. (Reuters / Tatiana Meel)

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The judgment was conducted by the Defense Under-Secretary for the Elbridge Colby policy after an examination of the stocks of American ammunition showed dangerously low reserves, politico reported for the first time.

Jasmine Baehr from Fox News and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.