A veteran of Russia’s war in Ukraine was killed in an explosion in southern Russia, authorities said on Thursday. Zaur Aleksandrovich Gurtsiev, 34, died alongside another man in the blast on a street in Stavropol.
Investigators believe the incident was caused by a homemade explosive device and are inspecting the scene of the crime. Gurtsiev had participated in the “Time of Heroes” program, which promotes veterans of the war to official positions in government.
Gurtsiev played a key role in liberating Mariupol during the war, where Russian forces seized control in 2022 after an 86-day siege that killed hundreds and displaced thousands. The incident marks the latest in a series of high-profile deaths among Russian military figures due to domestic violence.
In February, another pro-Russian militia group founder died following a bombing in Moscow, while last month, a Ukrainian special services agent was charged with terrorism over a car explosion in Russia.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/29/europe/russia-gurtsiev-stavropol-blast-intl