Major General Mikhail Evgenyevich Gudkov (born January 11, 1983 – died July 2, 2025) was a senior Russian military officer who served as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy from March until his death in July 2025 during the Russo-Ukrainian War[2][3][1]. Before his promotion, he commanded the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, a unit previously regarded as elite but later notorious for alleged involvement in civilian atrocities during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[1][3]. Gudkov's military career became controversial due to the 155th Brigade's association with war crimes, notably the massacre in Bucha, a Kyiv suburb where mass civilian killings were discovered after Russian forces withdrew, drawing widespread international condemnation[1]. Additionally, Gudkov was reportedly involved in organizing missile strikes on Ukrainian civilian and military infrastructure using "Iskander" ballistic systems, according to investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine[4]. His death was confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry and occurred during combat operations in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border on July 2, 2025. Some reports suggested he was killed by a Ukrainian precision strike, but official Russian sources provided limited details beyond confirming his death in active combat[1][3]. Gudkov’s rise to a high-ranking naval position despite his contentious battlefield record highlights the complex dynamics within the Russian military command during the ongoing conflict. His leadership roles and involvement in key military operations mark him as a prominent, albeit controversial, figure in the context of Russia's military actions in Ukraine.