Gudkov, 42, had been promoted to his position by Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 28, 2025, the Institute for the Study of War think tank noted at the time. He was previously the commander of the 155th Separate Guards Brigade of the Pacific Fleet Naval Infantry.

A view shows a scene of an explosion in which, according to Russia's investigative committee, Russian general Igor Kirillov, in charge of nuclear protection forces, and his assistant were killed, in Moscow,

Maj. Gen. Mikhail Gudkov is one of the highest-ranking Russian commanders killed in the war. His death comes as the U.S. seeks to pause military aid to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron have spoken in a phone call for the first time in three years.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it was France that asked for French President Emmanuel Macron to speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a pause of nearly three years and that the two leaders had a "very substantive" discussion.