A retired Russian commander who led airstrikes on the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol died in a blast early Thursday in Stavropol in southern Russia, authorities said.Zaur Gurtsiev, 34, received several medals for participating in Russia's grueling assaults on the cities of Mariupol and Avdiivka.

A veteran of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Zaur Gurtsiev, was killed in an explosion in Stavropol, Russia. After returning from the front, Gurtsiev joined the “Time of Heroes” program — a Kremlin initiative aimed at placing war veterans in government roles — and was serving as the city’s first deputy mayor.