Zaur Gurciev

Zaur Gurciev was a 34-year-old major in the Russian military, known for leading airstrikes against the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol during the spring of 2022. Following the devastating attacks, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 22,000 people, Gurciev received several military honors, including the Order of Courage and the Zhukov Medal. After his combat service, he transitioned to a political role, becoming the deputy mayor of Stavropol as part of a program initiated by President Vladimir Putin aimed at integrating war veterans into public office. Gurciev's life came to a tragic end when he was killed by an improvised explosive device during an incident involving Nikita Penkov, a 29-year-old who had connections with him.