Since the Russia-Ukraine war, the highest-ranking Russian military officer killed: the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy was killed by Ukrainian HIMARS long-range rocket artillery. On July 3, 2025, local time, the Russian Navy's Deputy Commander, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, was killed in an attack by Ukrainian missiles (HIMARS long-range rocket artillery). He and ten other senior Russian Navy officers were killed in the attack on the command center in the Kursk region of Russia. Mikhail Gudkov became the highest-ranking Russian officer to die since the start of the war.

Media report screenshot

The Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy was killed by Ukrainian HIMARS long-range rocket artillery

Russian media, Russian "TASS" announced that Russian hero, Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, died in Kursk on July 2. Mikhail Gudkov was previously the commander of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet, which participated in the entire Russia-Ukraine war. Due to his combat achievements, Major General Mikhail Gudkov was promoted to the position of Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, managing the Russian naval infantry brigades, coastal defense forces, etc. The governor of Primorsky Krai, Oleg Kozhemyako, reported, "He died with his loyal partner, our common friend Nariman Khakimov." Kozhemyako added that Gudkov died while "fulfilling his duties as a military officer, along with his comrades." "Along with the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, there were also his loyal comrade, Russian naval officer, Nariman Khakimov."

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, was killed in an attack by Ukrainian missiles (HIMARS long-range rocket artillery)

The 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet, led by the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, has fought throughout the Russia-Ukraine war and has achieved remarkable results

Kozhemyako pointed out that Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, Major General Mikhail Gudkov, never saw himself as a precious identity, he was a strong warrior. After becoming the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, he still personally went to the front-line command post. Gudkov graduated from the New Russia Higher Military Command School in 2005, received the Order of Courage and the Zhukov Medal, and was awarded the title of Hero of Russia in 2023.

The 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet has made great contributions on the Ukrainian battlefield

"War reporter" in Russia reported that Major General Mikhail Gudkov, his deputy, and another 10 Russian soldiers were killed when the Ukrainian armed forces launched HIMARS long-range rocket artillery attacks on the command post in the village of Kornevoe, Kursk region. It was confirmed that the Ukrainian army, with the help of the United States and NATO precise intelligence, had obtained the exact location of the Russian front command post and then carried out precise strikes.

The Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy was killed at the headquarters of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Russian Navy Pacific Fleet. We need to consider the deaths of the officers of the 155th Brigade and the Russian naval staff. The current commander of the 155th Brigade may have also been killed, which is very critical. According to the Ukrainian side, the headquarters of the Russian Kursk-Sumy group was destroyed, and more than ten senior Russian officers were killed. The Russian Sumy group will be in a huge passive situation, which is a rare good opportunity for the Ukrainian army. After seeing the annihilation of Iranian senior officers, now seeing the annihilation of Russian senior officers, Russia has turned itself into the second Iran.

Ukrainian troops firing the HIMARS rocket artillery

The death of the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy is not a good news for Putin. Putin must be heartbroken. From the current situation of the Russia-Ukraine war, the achievements of the Russian army in this stage are completely stagnant. From the perspective of the end of the war, Putin has indeed miscalculated. Putin did not expect that even after the US cut off military aid to Ukraine, the Russian army could not make breakthroughs on the front line. At this point in the war, Putin's patience will be exhausted. In three years of fighting, Putin has been too lenient towards Ukraine and has always been reluctant to take harsh measures.

While the Ukrainian army fired HIMARS long-range rocket artillery, it precisely killed the Russian front command post to retaliate against the Russian strike on the headquarters of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On July 3 local time, the Ukrainian side confirmed that the headquarters of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was completely blown up by two Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles launched by the Russians. In addition to the commander of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Colonel Sergey Zakharovich, who was killed, the deputy brigade commander and chief of staff of the brigade were also confirmed to have died. This is the ninth brigade commander declared dead by the Ukrainians. On July 2, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said, "We spent the whole day cleaning up the ruins after the attack on Huriyevka."

Colonel Sergey Zakharovich, commander of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was killed

Unfortunately, Colonel Sergey Zakharovich, commander of the 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and other personnel present in the brigade were killed, with over 30 casualties. This attack by the Russians launched two Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles. At Moscow time on July 1, 2025, the first Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile was launched by the Russians and exploded in the town of Huriyevka, Dnipropetrovsk region. Fifteen minutes later, the second Russian Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile arrived again. The 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was only 70 kilometers away from the nearest Russian forces.

The 110th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was bombed by Russian missiles

The Russians waited 15 minutes before firing the second Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile, relying on drones to confirm the results, then waiting for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' rescue personnel to arrive, and then firing a second shot to expand the results. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, this place was certainly considered absolutely safe by the Ukrainian army before. The Russians were ruthless, they fired once and waited 16 minutes for the second shot to further kill the remaining personnel. Now, neither Ukraine nor Russia can say where is absolutely safe. It is only relative. The drones of Russia and the Ukrainian army can fly more than 1000 kilometers behind the frontline, let alone the presence of inside agents and spies, and the intelligence provided by the US and NATO. The Russian reconnaissance satellites have poor intelligence, but the Ukrainian war machine is still functioning well until now.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7522807354623033871/

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