**Russian Naval Officer Killed in Ukrainian Strike**
A high-ranking Russian naval officer, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, has been killed in a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Kursk region. This was confirmed by Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Russia’s Primorsky Krai, on July 3.
According to reports, Gudkov was the deputy commander of the Russian Navy and had been appointed to this position just four months ago. Prior to his appointment, he led the 155th Separate Marine Brigade, which has been involved in combat operations against Ukraine. His death reportedly occurred during a Ukrainian attack on a Russian command post.
Several other Russian service members were also killed alongside Gudkov, including army officer Nariman Shikhaliyev. Ukraine has not officially commented on the reports.
**Background: Ukraine’s Cross-Border Incursion**
This incident is part of a larger conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in August 2024 when Ukrainian forces launched a cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast. This was the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign troops since World War II.
Since then, Ukraine has claimed to have inflicted significant casualties on Russian forces in the oblast, including 25,625 killed and 971 captured. They also claim to have destroyed or damaged over 5,664 pieces of Russian military equipment.
**Russia’s Response**
However, Russia retook most of the lost territory during a renewed offensive in March 2025, supported by North Korean troops. The exact details of this operation are not clear, but it appears that Russia has regained control of much of the Kursk Oblast.
The death of Major General Mikhail Gudkov is a significant development in this ongoing conflict and highlights the intensity of the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates on this story.
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