In a major blow to Russian military leadership, a Ukrainian missile strike on a command post in Korynev, Crimea, has killed Major General Mikhail Godkov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy’s Central Command, along with more than ten other personnel — most of them senior officers, according to defense sources.
General Godkov had taken charge as Deputy Commander in March 2025 and was previously the commander of the Pacific Fleet’s elite 155th Guards Marine Brigade. The brigade had been actively involved in the Ukraine conflict and was earlier deployed during Russia’s military intervention in Syria between 2015 and 2016. During that time, the unit played a key role in securing the strategic Hmeimim Airbase and participated in several critical support operations.
Godkov’s death marks one of the highest-ranking Russian casualties in recent months, underscoring the vulnerability of Russia’s military infrastructure in occupied Crimea. As of now, the Russian government has not issued any official statement regarding the strike or the loss of senior officers. The incident is likely to intensify tensions as Ukraine continues to target key Russian command and control nodes in the ongoing war.
