SVO veteran Zaur Gurtsiev died as a result of an explosion in Stavropol. What is known

Zaur Gurtsiev, a veteran of the special military operation (SVO), and his 29-year-old friend were killed in an explosion in Stavropol. This was announced on Thursday, May 29, by the press service of the regional investigative Department of the Investigative Committee. Law enforcement officers are considering a version of a terrorist attack. Read more in the Izvestia article.

SVO veteran Zaur Gurtsiev died in Stavropol — what happened

The incident occurred near a multi-storey apartment building on Chekhov Street. On the night of May 29, law enforcement agencies received a report about the discovery of the bodies of two men with injuries characteristic of the blast wave. Several cars parked nearby were also damaged. Investigators, criminologists and representatives of operational services promptly went to the place.

During the investigation, it was possible to identify the victims. One of them is a veteran of the Central Military District and the first deputy head of Stavropol, Zaur Gurtsiev. The second victim was a 29-year-old local resident, an acquaintance of Gurtsiev.

A criminal case has been opened into the incident under articles on the murder of two or more persons in a generally dangerous manner (paragraphs "a" and "e" of Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code), as well as on the illegal acquisition and storage of explosive devices (Part 1 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code).

As reported in the Telegram channel of the SU IC in the Stavropol Territory, as part of the investigation, an inspection of the scene was carried out, and forensic examinations were ordered. In addition, a set of measures is being taken to establish all the circumstances of the incident.

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"The investigation is considering all possible versions of the crime committed, including a terrorist act," the agency said in a statement.

The press service of the regional Investigative Committee added that law enforcement officers have reason to believe that Gurtsiev and his friend died as a result of the detonation of an improvised explosive device.

Izvestia also has footage of the moment of the explosion. The recording shows one man approaching another with an object in his hands, after which an explosion occurs.

The head of Stavropol, Ivan Ulyanchenko, and the Governor of the Stavropol Territory, Vladimir Vladimirov, expressed their condolences over the death of Zaur Gurtsiev.

What is known about the veteran of the SVO Zaur Gurtsiev

Zaur Gurtsiev was born in 1990 in Vladikavkaz, but spent most of his childhood in Stavropol. At the age of 22, he graduated from the Military Academy of Communications in St. Petersburg, receiving a diploma in radio communications.

Since 2019, Gurtsiev has been in charge of the Army's Combat control Center for the Air Force and Air Defense, consisting of 19 units. During his years of successful service, he was awarded the Order of Courage, the Order of Military Merit, the medals of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, I and II degrees, as well as the medals of Zhukov and Suvorov.

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After the start of the special operation, Gurtsiev went to the front. During the Battle for Mariupol, he was responsible for the aerial part of the operation to liberate the city.

After returning from a special operation, he took part in the presidential program for veterans "Time of Heroes" and chose an internship in the Stavropol government. After graduation, he was appointed first deputy mayor of the city, officially assuming office in September 2024.

In a conversation with Izvestia, Gurtsiev recalled that he had spent most of his life in Stavropol: he graduated from kindergarten and school there, and entered college. He also noted the rapid pace of development of the city.

"After I graduated from the military college, I lived in other settlements. And some moments are very visible in contrast when you are absent here and come periodically. I want to say that our city has always been developing rapidly and very efficiently. It is one of the best cities in Russia in terms of landscaping," he told Izvestia correspondent Leonid Kitrar.

The veteran called his main area of work the support of the participants of his organization and their family members.

Also on May 29, it became known that Gurtsiev was included in the database of the Ukrainian extremist website "Peacemaker" for participating in hostilities against Ukraine. The phone number and address of the deceased veteran were listed on the portal.