News Russian deputy governor dies in Kursk region

News Russian deputy governor dies in Kursk region

Russian Deputy Governor Sergey Efremov Dies in Kursk Region

Sergey Efremov, the deputy governor of Russia's Primorsky region, has been killed in fighting with Ukraine. According to The Independent, he is the highest-ranking Russian official to die in combat since the conflict between the two countries broke out in February 2022.

Efremov died when his car hit a mine and exploded in Kursk province on January 31, 2025. A Russian military officer was also killed in the incident. Kursk is an area where Russian forces have been trying to push back Ukrainian troops since August 2024.

High-profile death of a senior official

Efremov's death has attracted attention because most senior Russian government officials have not been directly involved in combat. Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the Primorsky region, confirmed the death of his deputy and hailed him as a “hero”.

The Russian government has not yet officially confirmed Efremov’s death, but many close officials have expressed their condolences. Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-appointed Donetsk administration, expressed his condolences on Telegram, calling Efremov’s death an “irreparable loss”.

Ukraine has not yet made any statement on the incident.

Sergey Efremov’s biography and role

Sergey Efremov, 51, had a career linked to the Primorsky region administration. When the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out in 2022, he became one of the officials who actively supported the military campaign.

In June 2022, Mr. Efremov founded the “Tigers” volunteer unit, which gathered volunteers from the Primorsky region to fight in Ukraine. The group was active on the battlefield and received support from the Russian government.

In 2023, Mr. Efremov returned to Primorsky but continued to maintain contact with the Tigers. However, when the Ukrainian army launched a counterattack in Kursk in 2024, he decided to return to the battlefield to fight directly with his comrades.

The situation in Kursk

The Kursk region, located near the border with Ukraine, has become a hot spot of fighting in recent months. Since August 2024, Ukrainian forces have launched attacks in this region, forcing Russia to strengthen its defenses.

Mr. Efremov has participated in military operations to maintain this strategic position. However, during a trip, the car carrying him hit a mine and exploded, killing him on the spot.

Reactions to Efremov's death

The death of Sergey Efremov is a great loss for the Primorsky region government as well as the volunteer force he founded. Governor Oleg Kozhemyako praised his bravery and affirmed that his sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has not commented on this incident. Some experts believe that the participation of high-ranking Russian officials in the battlefield may reflect Moscow's difficult situation in this protracted war.

Although the Russian government has not officially commented, condolences from high-ranking officials show that the information about Efremov's death is well-founded. This incident may affect the fighting spirit of Russian forces as well as Moscow's military strategy in the coming time.