**Russian Vice-Governor and Military Commander Killed in Kursk Oblast**
Sergei Yefremov, a high-ranking official in Russia’s Primorsky Krai, was killed on February 2. He was commander of the Tiger military unit.
Yefremov’s vehicle exploded after hitting a mine while he was returning from a combat mission. Another officer also died in the incident.
**Background**
The Tiger volunteer unit was formed in 2022. Yefremov took command of it in August 2024. His unit was deployed to Kursk Oblast, where fighting with Ukrainian forces has been ongoing.
Ukrainian troops briefly captured about 1,300 square kilometers of Russian territory in August 2024. Since then, they have lost around half of that land. Fighting continues in the region.
**Context**
The conflict in Kursk Oblast is a key issue for potential peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. North Korean troops were also deployed to the area last fall to support Russian forces against Ukrainian incursions.