Speculations Arise Over Assassination of Russian Major in Possible Honey Trap

In recent developments from Russia, the assassination of Major Zaur Gurzijew has sparked wild speculation regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. The major, infamous for orchestrating airstrikes on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in 2022, was allegedly lured into a deadly trap through an online dating platform.

Reports suggest that Gurzijew, who was responsible for the deaths of approximately 8,000 individuals, encountered a man identified as Nikita Penkow, aged 29, on a dating site. The two arranged to meet in Stavropol, southern Russia, where Penkow purportedly carried an explosive device that led to both their deaths during the meeting.

According to sources from the Russian intelligence blog VChK-OGPU, Penkow may have been unaware of the explosive device hidden in the recording equipment he was given. Initial communications between the two men involved the exchange of explicit photographs before they agreed to meet in person. It has been suggested that Penkow was misled into believing he was to collect compromising information on Gurzijew.

Following the incident, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that investigations into double murder and the illegal possession of explosives have been initiated. Eyewitness accounts indicate that Penkow resided in one of the nearby residential buildings at the time of the explosion. However, authorities did not find any bomb-making materials during searches of his apartment.

Penkow was previously employed as an officer in a special police unit of the Stavropol Interior Ministry, responsible for overseeing and escorting suspects and defendants. The details of his last assignment remain unclear.

Gurzijew, who was recognized for his military actions, was rewarded by President Putin with the position of Deputy Mayor of Stavropol, a city with a population of 400,000.

Footage from a surveillance camera has circulated on social media, capturing the moment one man approached the other between parked cars before the explosive detonated, suggesting a possible remote detonation. Reports indicate that Penkow died instantly, while Gurzijew succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Governor Vladimir Vladimirov of Stavropol commented that the victims exhibited injuries consistent with an explosion's impact, categorizing the event as a likely terrorist attack possibly involving operatives linked to Ukraine.

Gurzijew's actions during the siege of Mariupol, which included targeting civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and the city's theater where hundreds sought refuge, have left a lasting mark on the region's history.