Overview

• Zaur Gurtsiev and an acquaintance identified as Nikita Penkov died when a homemade explosive device detonated during their meeting on a Stavropol street.
• Gurtsiev rose through President Putin’s Time of Heroes program and led the air assault during Mariupol’s 2022 siege before his appointment as deputy governor.
• Authorities have launched criminal investigations into murder and illegal arms possession while examining all versions of the attack, including possible Ukrainian involvement.
• This killing follows a string of targeted attacks on high-ranking Russian military figures inside Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
• Kyiv and Moscow have exchanged accusations over unrealistic ultimatums as direct peace talks remain frozen with no agreement in sight.