Kremlin confirms death of Russian navy deputy head in blow to Putin

Flowers placed in front of a board with a photograph of Major General Mikhail Gudkov at an exhibition in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, Russia, on July 3, 2025 - (REUTERS)

The Kremlin has confirmed the death of Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the deputy head of the Russian Navy, in the border area of Russia’s Kursk region, the TASS state news agency reported on Thursday

Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of a far eastern Russian region, had said earlier on Thursday that Gudkov, who once led a brigade fighting against Ukrainian forces in Kursk, had been killed.