Colonel Sergei Ilyin and Major General Mikhail Gudkov among top Russian officers reportedly killed in July 2nd strike; Kremlin silent on full extent of casualties
Moscow/Kyiv: A senior commander of Russia’s elite marine forces, Colonel Sergei Ilyin, and Deputy Navy Commander Major General Mikhail Gudkov were reportedly killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in the Kursk region on July 2, 2025, according to an investigation by the independent Telegram channel Astra.
The strike, which is believed to have targeted a high-level Russian military gathering, allegedly killed 11 senior officers, though Russia’s Defence Ministry has officially confirmed only Gudkov’s death, stating that he died “during combat duty” without elaborating.
Colonel Ilyin’s Death Revealed Through Deleted Local Post
The death of Colonel Sergei Ilyin, who led the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, was disclosed via a now-deleted post by officials in the Urmarsky district, part of Russia’s Chuvashia Republic. The post stated that Ilyin died “during the special military operation,” Russia’s official term for the invasion of Ukraine.
“Colonel Sergei Ilyin gave his life fulfilling his duty in the special operation zone,” read the deleted tribute, according to Astra.
A funeral billboard photograph shared by Astra shows Ilyin’s birth and death dates as November 26, 1985 – July 2, 2025, aligning with the same day as the missile strike that killed Gudkov.
Missile Strike Believed to Have Targeted Russian Command Site
Multiple independent reports suggest the Ukrainian strike was highly targeted, aiming at a command-level meeting of Russian naval and ground officers in the southwestern Kursk region, not far from the Ukrainian border.
“The strike appears to have been guided by precise intelligence and may represent one of the most significant single losses of Russian command since the war began,” a Ukrainian military analyst told News Flash on condition of anonymity.
While Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed Gudkov’s death, it has not publicly addressed the fate of other officers, including Ilyin.
Silence from Kremlin Fuels Speculation
The lack of an official Russian statement naming Ilyin or confirming the reported 11-officer death toll has sparked speculation about internal disarray or an effort to control the narrative amid mounting battlefield losses.
“This silence is consistent with the Kremlin’s pattern of withholding information about high-ranking casualties to manage domestic morale and political fallout,” said a European security expert.
If confirmed, the deaths of both Colonel Ilyin and Major General Gudkov in a single strike would mark a rare and serious blow to Russia’s naval command structure.
Rising Ukrainian Precision Strikes on Command Targets
This incident is the latest in a series of high-profile Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian command and control centres, thanks in part to enhanced intelligence sharing and advanced Western-supplied missile systems.
Military observers believe these strikes are designed to disrupt Russian coordination and weaken morale, especially among senior field officers, many of whom now operate closer to the front lines due to shifting battlefield dynamics.
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