An alleged suicide bombing in Stavropol on Thursday killed Deputy Mayor Zaur Aleksandrovich Gurtsiev, a decorated veteran of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The explosion occurred on Chekhova Street at around 7 p.m. local time. Russian investigators confirmed that Gurtsiev, 34, and another man, 29-year-old Nikita Penkov, died in the blast.
Russian media report that Zaur Gurtsiyev, who was responsible for strikes on Mariupol, has been blown up in Russian Stavropol.
Reportedly, a person carrying an explosive device came up to him near a residential building. Both of them died.
Gurtsiyev led the air strikes on… pic.twitter.com/SpWP9r7Liq
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 29, 2025
Authorities believe the improvised explosive device was attached to Penkov. A surveillance camera video shows Penkov approaching Gurtsiev moments before the blast occurred.
Russian war criminal received what he deserved!
In Stavropol, a major who led the bombing of Mariupol was eliminated: it was those strikes that destroyed the Drama Theater, where thousands of civilians were hiding.
All war criminals and their accomplices will be punished! pic.twitter.com/De2KQpqW5J
— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) May 29, 2025
Gurtsiev became deputy mayor under the Kremlin’s “Time of Heroes” program, which places military veterans in public office, after he ordered the bombing of Mariupol in 2022. The assault resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians.
Stavropol Governor Vladimir Vladimirov suggested possible Ukrainian involvement but offered no evidence. The investigation is still ongoing.
Ukraine has not commented on the incident though it has previously targeted Russian officials involved in the war.
