Published on: 2026-07-02
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
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A ceremonial unveiling of a monument to the twice Hero of the Russian Federation, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Major General Mikhail Evgenievich Gudkov, who died in the line of military duty in the Kursk region, took place on the territory of the federal military memorial complex “Pantheon of Defenders of the Fatherland.” The monument’s author is Alexey Ignatov, an honored artist of the Russian Federation and sculptor from the M.B. Grekov Studio of Military Artists.
The event was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Government – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, Deputy Minister of Defense Army General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Fleet Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, Governors of Primorsky Krai and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Oleg Kozhemyako and Mariya Kostyuk, the officer’s wife Zhanna Gudkova, his daughter Amina and mother Olga Mikhailovna, as well as servicemen and veterans of the Navy Fleet.
The honorary right to unveil the monument was granted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Fleet Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, and the wife of Major General Mikhail Gudkov – Zhanna Anatolyevna. Immediately after the parachute fabric was removed from the monument, the military band of the Moscow Military District performed the State Anthem of the Russian Federation.
“The word ‘monument’ and the name Mikhail Gudkov do not combine well for me. In my office, there is a photograph of Mikhail from our last meeting. We met with the Varyag not far from Ugledar, where the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade was preparing for an assault. I remember Mikhail Gudkov as a talented military leader, a brave officer, and a wonderful comrade. I am confident that the memory of him will inspire the warriors of Primorye and all of Russia for a long time and teach how to love the Motherland and how to defend it,” said Yuri Trutnev.
“Today is an important event – both for all of us and for future generations. Mikhail Gudkov has not only entered the history of the country as the first twice Hero of Russia. This high recognition from the President and the Government of Russia reflects his combat merits in defending our Motherland. He will forever remain the highest example of bravery, courage, and heroism. Patriotic education of youth should be built exactly on such examples – where personal courage, professional qualities, and dedication to military duty are combined,” said Oleg Kozhemyako.
The memorial is located on the territory of the “Pantheon of the Defenders of the Fatherland” near the Unknown Soldier cenotaph and the Eternal Flame. Its artistic concept reveals the image not only of the hero himself, but also of the unit he led, his comrades-in-arms, and all the warriors – the naval infantrymen. The monument consists of two main parts – a bronze figure of Major General Mikhail Gudkov and a large symbolic composition with a shield. The figure of the commander in field military uniform is made in full height. On the chest are depicted two “Gold Star” medals of the Hero of the Russian Federation, personal insignia, and a patch with the callsign Varyag. The determined pose and clenched fist convey the strength of character, determination, and resilience of the officer.
At the conclusion of the ceremonial event, after the speeches of the honored guests and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, servicemen, veterans, and ceremony guests laid wreaths and flowers at the monument. The event ended with the ceremonial march of the honor guard company of the 154th Separate Commandant Preobrazhensky Regiment to the sounds of the song “Our proud ‘Varyag’ does not surrender to the enemy.”
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