Overview
- Russia’s Defence Ministry and Primorye Governor confirmed that the July 2 strike in Korenevo killed Maj. Gen. Mikhail Gudkov, his deputy Nariman Shikhaliyev and between 10 to 20 other servicemen.
- The precision attack used US-made HIMARS rockets to target a forward command post roughly 11 miles from the Ukraine border.
- Gudkov, 42, was appointed deputy commander of the Russian Navy in March after leading the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, a unit repeatedly rebuilt following heavy losses.
- His death is at least the 11th confirmed loss of a senior Russian officer since the 2022 invasion and highlights Ukraine’s evolving long-range targeting capabilities.
- Ukraine has not publicly claimed responsibility for the strike, and fighting continues along the Russia–Ukraine border.