Russia-Ukraine conflict: Senior Russian naval officer, once awarded 'Hero of the Russian Federation' by Putin, killed in combat

A high-ranking Russian naval officer was killed during "combat operations" in the border region of Kursk, Russia’s defence ministry confirmed on Thursday. Major general Mikhail Gudkov, who served as deputy commander of the Russian navy, died on 2 July while “carrying out his duty” during ongoing clashes in the area. “During combat operations in one of the border areas of the Kursk region on July 2, 2025... Major General Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov was killed,” Russia’s state-run RIA news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying. Gudkov was one of the most senior Russian military figures to be killed since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.The 42 year old officer had been serving in the military since 2000. In 2023, he was awarded the title of “Hero of the Russian Federation,” Kremlin's highest honour, by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Primorye region in Russia’s Far East, paid tribute to the officer, describing him as a “strong-spirited fighter”Kozhemyako said that he had talked a "lot" to Gudkov over the years and was"was killed carrying out his duty as an officer." Even after being appointed deputy commander of the Russian navy, he "did not stop going out in person to the positions of our marines.” Gudkov had previously commanded the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, which is based in the Russian Far East, he said, quoted by AFP.Ukrainian forces seized significant portions of the Kursk region in a surprise offensive last year, launched in response to Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. Although Moscow claimed to have fully regained control of the area in April, fighting along the border has persisted.