Explosion Kills Russian Air Commander Who Lay Siege to Ukrainian City

 

Russian Air Force Officer Involved in Mariupol Siege Killed in Stavropol Blast

Major Zaur Gurtsiyev, the Russian officer who led air operations during the devastating siege of Mariupol, Ukraine, has been killed in an explosion in Russia’s Stavropol region.

Russia’s Investigative Committee confirmed that Gurtsiyev, 34, was one of two men killed in the blast on Wednesday night. Authorities believe the explosion was caused by a homemade explosive device and are investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act.

“Investigators are examining all possible scenarios, including terrorism,” the committee stated in a message on Telegram.

Gurtsiyev played a central role in the 2022 assault on Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov. The siege, carried out during the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and left hundreds of thousands more trapped in dire conditions.

In addition to his military role, Gurtsiyev had previously served as deputy mayor of Stavropol.

The blast occurred near a residential apartment complex. Surveillance footage shared by Telegram channels affiliated with Russian law enforcement appears to show the moment of the explosion. In the video, one man is seen approaching another in a parking area before the blast occurs. Officials have not commented on the footage.

The Investigative Committee said evidence points to the use of a homemade explosive device. The second victim has been identified as a 29-year-old local resident and acquaintance of Gurtsiyev.

Stavropol Mayor Ivan Ulyanchenko reported that while several parked cars were damaged, the nearby building sustained no visible structural damage. Interfax, citing law enforcement sources, said one of the men was carrying a grenade that detonated.

Gurtsiyev was honored with the Order of Courage in 2024, a state award recognizing his actions during the siege of Mariupol.

“I received the Order of Courage for leading the air component of the operation to liberate Mariupol,” he said in a video posted by the Telegram channel Heroes of Special Operation Z and reported by state media outlet TASS.

Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov addressed the incident on Telegram: “It is with deep regret that I inform you of the death of our hero, veteran, and participant in the ‘Time of Heroes’ program, Zaur Aleksandrovich Gurtsiyev. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. All possible leads are being pursued, including the involvement of Ukrainian nationalist groups.”

Mayor Ulyanchenko added in a separate post: “There are no words that can ease the sorrow of our colleague’s family. We mourn as a team and will provide all necessary support to his loved ones.”

International human rights organizations have condemned the Mariupol siege as one of the most egregious events of the war. In February 2024, Ida Sawyer, crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch, stated: “Russian forces’ devastation of Mariupol stands out as one of the worst chapters of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine. International bodies should investigate senior Russian officials potentially involved in war crimes committed during the siege.”

An official investigation into the explosion that killed Major Gurtsiyev remains ongoing.