HUR blows up van with Kadyrov fighters in occupied Melitopol, killing five

A van carrying Kadyrov's fighters was blown up during a Ukrainian special operation, Ukrainian intelligence reported. The explosion wounded two additional Russian soldiers in a nearby vehicle and destroyed a mobile electronic warfare (EW) system.

On July 4, an explosion occurred on the outskirts of the temporarily occupied village of Strilkove in Kherson Oblast. A Chevrolet Aveo carrying three Russian military personnel — UAV operators from the so-called Bars-Sarmat Special Purpose Center for Unmanned Systems — was hit.

According to preliminary data from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR), all three occupants, including the team leader, were killed instantly. The group reportedly posed a threat to Ukraine’s security and defense forces and had participated in terrorizing the civilian population of the Kherson region.

Separately, on July 3, Russian authorities confirmed the death of Vice Admiral Mikhail Gudkov, deputy commander of Russia’s Navy.

Gudkov held the rank of major general and was a recipient of the Hero of Russia title and honors from the Primorsky Krai. He previously commanded the 155th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, which had been awarded the Orders of Zhukov and Suvorov.