Ukrainian forces claim high-profile Russian Naval Infantry Leader

Ukrainian and international monitoring sources report that Russian Major General Mikhail Yevgenyevich Gudkov, commander of the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade and deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, was killed in a precision strike near the Russian-Ukrainian border.

The initial report of Gudkov’s death came from the Suvorov Brotherhood, a Russian military-affiliated channel on Telegram and VK, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The strike reportedly took place in the Korenovo area of Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian command post, resulting in the deaths of Major General Gudkov, his deputy, and at least 20 others, most of whom were senior officers.

“Legendary Major General killed in a HIMARS strike on a command post, along with his deputy and 20 others,” Russian war correspondents wrote.

Gudkov’s command, the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, has a protracted and brutal record in Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

The unit has been decimated repeatedly since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, undergoing at least eight rounds of rebuilding, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

In March 2022, the brigade suffered a catastrophic defeat near Moschun, northwest of Kyiv. Despite this rout, Vladimir Putin awarded the brigade “Guards” status—a prestigious title traditionally reserved for elite formations.

Later that year, the brigade endured severe losses during unsuccessful assaults on Pavlivka in Donetsk Oblast and sustained a disastrous defeat near Vuhledar in February 2023, marking one of the most devastating setbacks for Russian forces in the conflict.

Despite these repeated failures, the 155th was redeployed to Ukraine’s Kharkiv region amid Russia’s ongoing offensive in the north.

Following Ukraine’s cross-border raids into the Kursk region, the 155th was reportedly repositioned to reinforce Russian border defenses. Elements of the brigade are also believed to be involved in securing the Belgorod region, including manning checkpoints near the “Klotylivka” border crossing.

The brigade also participated in the initial occupation of the Kyiv region, including Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel, where numerous atrocities against civilians—including executions, torture, and rape—were documented.

Earlier, one of Russia’s most decorated military snipers was killed while fighting in Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva