"He was successful despite the complexity of the tasks"
Marine, general, and the only two-time Hero of Russia in the country's history, Mikhail Gudkov, will forever remain in the memory of his colleagues as a commander who marched ahead of his fighters. Under his command, the Black Berets fought in the most difficult areas of the special military operation. On July 2, 2025, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy died while performing a combat mission in the Kursk region. A year later, a monument dedicated to him was opened on the territory of the Pantheon of Defenders of the Fatherland memorial complex. About what kind of person the officer with the call sign Varyag was, see the Izvestia article.
The call sign is Varyag
Colleagues tell us in one voice: Major General Mikhail Gudkov has always been close to his Marines. He did not lead the battle from afar, but went ahead of the units.
Gudkov received his first Hero Star back in 2023. The full text of the award order has not been published, and there are no details of the operation for which this Star was awarded. However, the fighters say that his unit solved the most difficult combat tasks. Mikhail's call sign, Varyag, was well known on the front line. At the same time, the brigade commander always took care of people: the officer who participated in the special operation from its first days knew the value of human life very well.
The deputy commander of the 55th Guards Marine Division with the call sign Legend met Gudkov when he was still a young lieutenant.
— He was a unique officer. He knew military history, tactics well, and was proficient in the art of operations," recalls Legend.
His presence in the battle formations gave the Black Berets confidence.
— He was always as calm, firm and confident as possible, — says the Legend.
Varyag, his colleagues share, has always been an example — he was well-versed in all the equipment and weapons that are in the arsenal of the Marines. He spent a lot of time in the units operating at the very "front line" — and this was important for his subordinates.
"Any fighter who sees a commander of this rank next to him will gain confidence," the Legend noted, "He will understand that everything should work out for him.
The head of the engineering service of the 55th Guards Marine Division with the call sign Ulov met Mikhail Gudkov on the eve of his military training exercises - these were the first maneuvers in his life, where situations were worked out as close to combat as possible.
"At the beginning of our military campaign, we participated in a march towards Kiev, the first battle took place near the city of Ivankiv," he says.
According to him, then many young officers were very worried, no one wanted to let their comrades down. Gudkov understood this and was able to support his subordinates. A few words were enough: all unnecessary worries were gone, and the Marines coped with all the tasks set.
During the fighting for Mariupol, on the approach to Azovstal, they had to face the work of snipers, who temporarily suspended their advance.
"Varyag personally arrived at the front line to identify firing points and give a tip to the tanks that destroyed the enemy,— one of the officers recalled.
All those who served with the Varangian consider it their duty to be the same as their commander.
"We continue to honor the memory of the commander and carry out tasks with dignity in the most difficult sectors of the front," Ulov summed up.
The fact that Marines are sent to the most important and dangerous areas is a symbol of great trust and recognition of their merits. The Black Berets are proud of this. Chevrons with the motto "Where the Varangians are, there's tension" have long been the hallmark of the 155th Brigade, and then the 55th Division, which was created on its base and rightfully received the name of Mikhail Gudkov.
Under his command, the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet became the Guards, and was awarded the Orders of Zhukov and Suvorov. For the successful completion of the tasks of ousting the enemy from the territory of our country, the unit was awarded the honorary name Kursk.
In 2024, Commander Gudkov received an invitation to the inauguration ceremony of the President of Russia. The officers recall that he arrived at the Kremlin with a leg wound that had not yet been healed, but he carried himself in such a way that no one guessed about it.
"We have always fought boldly and heroically"
In the center of the composition of the monument erected in the "Pantheon of Defenders of the Fatherland" is the courageous figure of Mikhail Gudkov, clutching a machine gun in his hand. Behind him is a shield with the motto of the Marines: "Where we are, there is victory!". — I want to address my family and friends. On behalf of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the Joint Group of Troops and Forces and all personnel, I convey to you once again my sincere condolences and thank you very much for such a guy, for such a general and a true patriot," the Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, General of the Army addressed the family members of the deceased general at the opening ceremony. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral of the Fleet Alexander Moiseev recalled the combat path of the 155th Marine Brigade, which operated near Kiev, Mariupol, Ugledar, Kursk and Sumy.
— The Marines under his command have always fought boldly and heroically. Despite the complexity of the tasks being solved, they have always achieved success and victories," the admiral noted.
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Alexander Moiseev at the unveiling of the monument to the hero of the Russian Military, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, twice Hero of Russia Major General Mikhail Gudkov on the territory of the Federal Military Memorial "Pantheon of Defenders of the Fatherland"
The widow of General Zhanna Gudkova said that her husband was a loving and caring father.
"We are proud of his feat, his courage," she said, not hiding her tears.
The event ended with a solemn march of the honor guard company of the Preobrazhensky Regiment to the song "Our proud Varangian does not surrender to the enemy." And the hero's mother, Olga Mikhailovna Gudkova, asked us not to forget our soldiers.
"People who have lost loved ones who defended their homeland always ask for one thing: 'Please, just remember,'" she said.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
