Russian military figure Zaur Aleksandrovich Gurtsiev, known for his role in the bombardment of Mariupol, was killed by a suicide bomber in Stavropol, alongside Nikita Penkov, who reportedly carried the explosive device. The incident, which involved a homemade bomb, is under criminal investigation, with authorities considering the possibility of a terrorist attack. Gurtsiev, a recipient of various honors for his military service, was appointed by Vladimir Putin as First Deputy Head of Stavropol in 2024 and had been promoted through the “Time of Heroes” program.