# A retired Russian commander who led air strikes on the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol died in a blast in Stavropol in southern Russia. Thirty-four-year-old Zaur Gurtsiev received several medals for participating in Russia’s assaults on the cities of Mariupol and Avdiivka. Authorities did not say what caused the explosion, but also did not rule out that Ukraine was responsible. A string of high-profile Russian servicemen have been killed in Russia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.
Retired Russian commander involved in air strikes on Ukraine dies in explosion in Russia