Putin's Praised Naval Leader Reportedly Killed in Ukraine, Claims Moscow

According to a recent report from Reuters, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy head of the Russian Navy and a figure celebrated by President Vladimir Putin, has been killed in action. This loss marks a significant blow to Moscow’s military leadership.The Defense ministry announced that Gudkov was killed during combat operations in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

Prior reports from various military Telegram channels indicated that he died alongside other servicemen due to a Ukrainian missile strike on their command post using an American-made HIMARS missile. However, independent verification of these details remains elusive. At 42 years old and known by his call sign ‘Viking’, Gudkov had recently been appointed to his high-ranking naval position after receiving accolades from Putin earlier this year.

As one of Russia’s top military officials lost since the onset of it’s full-scale conflict with Ukraine in 2022, Gudkov’s death adds him to a growing list—over ten senior commanders have reportedly been killed or targeted by Ukrainian forces throughout this war. While Ukraine has accused him and his team of war crimes—a claim Moscow firmly denies—there was no immediate response from Kyiv regarding his death.

In vladivostok, where Russia’s Pacific Fleet is based, locals paid their respects by leaving flowers at an outdoor portrait of Gudkov as part of an exhibition honoring military figures deemed heroes by russia. in March, Putin praised Gudkov for leading the elite 155th Marine Brigade and tasked him with enhancing combat readiness among new forces while overseeing reforms within Russia’s Marine Corps.

Known for being straightforward about battlefield realities rather than sugarcoating them for superiors, many troops viewed him as one of their most effective leaders. Before rising through the ranks to become deputy head of the navy, he led his brigade through intense fighting in key areas like Kyiv and Mariupol before moving on to operations in Kursk.

Interestingly enough, parts of Kursk were briefly captured by Ukrainian forces during an unexpected offensive last august; however, Russian claims suggest they have since regained control over those territories.