By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Reports indicate that Colonel Sergei Ilyin, commander of the Pacific Fleet’s 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, was killed in Ukraine during the special military operation. The independent Telegram news channel Astra reported this, citing a now-deleted post from officials in Ilyin’s hometown, which included his birth and death dates. Furthermore, on the same day, reports surfaced about the death of 11 senior Russian military officers, including Navy Deputy Commander Mikhail Gudkov, in a Ukrainian missile strike. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Major General Gudkov’s death, but did not specify the cause or mention other reported casualties.
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Elite Russian Marine Unit Commander Reportedly Killed in Ukrainian Missile Strike is a headline that instantly grabs your attention, doesn’t it? It’s a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and the devastating human cost. The news, breaking through the independent Telegram news channel Astra, suggests a high-ranking officer, Colonel Sergei Ilyin, commander of the Pacific Fleet’s 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, has been taken out in a Ukrainian missile strike. This is not just another soldier; this is a leader, a person responsible for the lives of many, now reportedly gone.
The report goes on to reveal that the colonel’s death, which occurred during the “special military operation” in Ukraine, was made known through a post, now removed, by officials in his hometown. While the exact date of his death isn’t specified in the initial report, a photograph of a funeral billboard shared by Astra displayed his birth and death dates as November 26, 1985, and July 2, 2025, respectively. The confirmation of death through official sources, even if initially fleeting, adds weight to the report. It’s a sobering glimpse into the real-time consequences of this war.
Furthermore, on that same day, the reports indicated the death of 11 senior Russian military officers. Among them was Navy Deputy Commander Mikhail Gudkov, who was also killed in the same strike in the southwestern Kursk region of Ukraine. While Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed Major General Gudkov’s death “during combat duty” on July 2, the statement curiously avoided mentioning the circumstances of the death and the other reported casualties. This withholding of information often speaks volumes.
The 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade, under Colonel Ilyin’s command, is described as an “elite” unit. However, a closer look reveals a different picture, or at least, a different perception of their status. The comments paint a picture of a unit that, while potentially prestigious in name, has been repeatedly decimated on the front lines. The assertion that the 155th has been “ground into complete pulp numerous times” certainly casts doubt on any claims of elite status in a more realistic way. It’s suggested that if even 1 in 50 of the enlisted and lower officer ranks predate the 2022 invasion, it would be surprising.
If you were a soldier in one of these units, the sentiment goes, death would be a near certainty. The 155th is apparently no stranger to being “Ukraine’s favorite bitch,” the comments indicate, a unit that has been so thoroughly beaten by the ZSU that it has been reconstituted multiple times during this war. This paints a grim picture of the brigade’s operational capabilities and resilience.
The comments don’t hold back on their assessment of the 155th, either. They directly address the character of the unit, detailing a “rich history of war crimes,” including actions in Chechnya, Syria, and a whole host of horrors in Ukraine, including the killing of civilians and prisoners of war. This grim information frames the death of the commander in a particular light, the comments seeming to express no remorse, instead expressing the feeling that the world is “a slightly better place” with his death.
It’s a very revealing commentary on the emotional climate of the conflict. The comments also express that the true costs of this war will be unknown for years to come, a stark reminder that the human impact extends far beyond the immediate casualties. It serves as a statement on Putin’s gambit, the implication being that Russia is receiving, at most, a border region in Ukraine, a trade-off that is not worth the price. The repeated comparison to a hydra, where the unit is decapitated and is replaced with someone even worse highlights this cycle of destruction.
While the events described are unfortunate, there is a tone of “good riddance” to the officer. It is a sentiment that highlights the depth of hatred fueled by the war. The commentary suggests a lack of respect for the officer, reflecting the sentiment expressed in the comments. It also questions the standards of leadership and age within the Russian military, pointing out that a commander, who is only 39 years old, is not really “elite.”
Ultimately, the details surrounding the death of Colonel Sergei Ilyin are a grim illustration of the devastating consequences of the conflict. The reports are a reminder of the human price being paid on both sides. The comments offer a stark, unsentimental view of the war, highlighting the destruction and cruelty that are often hidden from view. The reports give a picture of the high-stakes conflict, the losses, and the grim reality of war.