A Russian deputy mayor and prominent veteran of Moscow’s war in Ukraine was killed in a suspected bombing in southern Russia, officials confirmed on Thursday.The 34 year old Zaur Aleksandrovich Gurtsiev died in an early morning explosion on a street in Stavropol, along with another man. The blast was caused by a “homemade explosive device,” as per investigators cited by CNN.Russia’s Investigative Committee said “As part of the investigation, the scene of the incident is being inspected, examinations are being ordered, and the necessary investigative actions are being carried out to establish all the circumstances of the incident.”Stavropol region governor Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram that “all versions are being considered, including the organisation of a terrorist attack” possibly linked to Ukraine.Gurtsiev had risen to prominence through the Kremlin-backed “Time of Heroes” programme, launched by President Vladimir Putin to promote war veterans into public office. According to the programme’s website, Gurtsiev led aerial operations during Russia’s controversial siege of Mariupol in 2022.“He introduced his developments in the technology of targeting missiles, which allowed them to increase their accuracy and effectiveness many times over, including hitting the Azov supply base,” the site states.The capture of Mariupol followed an 86-day siege that left much of the city in ruins. UN estimates suggest 90% of residential buildings were either damaged or destroyed, with around 350,000 people forced to flee. Ukrainian officials claim up to 20,000 civilians were killed, though that figure remains unverified.Gurtsiev’s death comes amid a string of attacks on Russian military figures inside the country. Last month, authorities arrested an alleged Ukrainian agent in connection with a car bomb that killed General Yaroslav Moskalik, a top officer in Russia’s military command. In February, Armen Sarkisyan, a pro-Russian militia leader in eastern Ukraine, died in a bombing in central Moscow.
