Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy head of the Russian Navy and a former commander of a marine brigade fighting against Ukraine, has been killed in action, depriving Moscow of one of its most senior officers,

Major general Mikhail Gudkov was the deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy. He was also leading the 155th brigade that fought in the Ukraine war. He is one of Russia’s highest-ranking officers to have been killed since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, a deputy commander of the Russian navy praised and promoted by Russia's president was killed "during combat work in one of the border districts of Kursk region", the Defence Ministry said in a statement.