THIS is the dramatic moment Putin’s “war hero” who led the bloody airborne slaughter of Mariupol is killed in an apparent suicide bombing.

Major Zaur Gurtsiev, 34, was blown to pieces alongside another man in the city of Stavropol, southern Russia – with officials scrambling to figure out who pushed the button.

Gurtsiev was reportedly on a date with Nikita Penkov, 29, who was carrying the bomb in his bag – possibly unknowingly.

CCTV footage shows Penkov sidling up behind Gurtsiev just before midnight, who is standing still on a city footpath.

There is an enormous flash of fire, sparks and red light as the explosive detonates and pulverises the two men.

Russian media described the incident as a “suicide bombing” in the aftermath – though there is confusion over whether Penkov was privy to the plot.

The two men hooked up for a date after exchanging nude photos, according to a Telegram channel with links to the Russian secret services.

The channel reported: “During the investigation, explicit correspondence was discovered, where they sent each other nude photos.

“The deputy [mayor] had already invited his new acquaintance to spend time together, but each time the meeting had to be cancelled due to Gurtsiev’s business trips, until last night.”

The report says that Penkov had been hired by a third party to collect intelligence on Gurtsiev, and given special equipment which could transmit live video.

The kit was stowed his body bag – and fitted with explosives, the account said.

These explosives were then detonated when the two were standing right next to each other – but this could have been done remotely.

Gurtsiev was still alive for around five minutes after bomb went off, according to Russian outlet Shot media.

The major tried to crawl away from the explosion site before succumbing to his injuries.

The Russian Investigative Committee was probing the circumstances of the assassination.

Putin had appointed Gurtsiev as deputy mayor of Stavropol – part of a scheme to fast-track military “heroes” into political careers.

The military man notoriously spearheaded the Russian airborne operation in the battle for Ukrainian city Mariupol – when thousands of civilians were slaughtered.

He was officially married to wife Nadezhda, and they had a young family.

One local report suggested Penkov knew what he was doing – and points to the fact that he angled his bag towards the doomed major just before the explosion.

Some 15 days ago he rented a flat in the block, outside which the bomb exploded.

Reports said he was on a Russian black list for suspected money laundering. 

Neighbours said he was “strange but polite”, and regularly used taxis. 

One theory is that he was recruited by Ukrainian special services to target deputy mayor Gurtsiev.

Ukrainian war journalist Denis Kazansky said: “Gurtsiev was the executioner of Mariupol and a war criminal. 

“He reportedly led the airborne portion of the operation to capture the city, meaning he was responsible for the mass civilian casualties he dropped bombs on.”

Nikita’s apartment was searched after the explosion.

No explosives were found but a telephone and a laptop were confiscated.

In the wake of the dramatic assassination, Putin repeated the tired mantra that “family values” are essential to Russia, regardless of progress elsewhere in the world.

Regional governor Vladimir Vladimirov said: “All versions are being considered, including the organisation of a terrorist attack involving Nazis from Ukraine.”

The Kremlin has long peddled the lie that Nazism is rife in Ukraine – and uses it to justify Russia‘s illegal invasion.

As chief of the air operation in Maiupol, Gurtsiev oversaw the bloodbath bombing of the city’s theatre, where an estimated 600 people died.

In Russia, he was praised for the “operation to liberate Mariupol” and his “developments in the technology of missile targeting, which allowed them to increase their accuracy and effectiveness several times, including hitting the Azov supply base”.

Gurtsiev was also awarded the Order of Courage.

He was handpicked to be part of Putin’s “Time for Heroes” promotion scheme parachuting war heroes – often with blood on their hands – onto the political ladder across Russia. 

He also won more significant military honours from Putin, notably the Order For Merit to the Fatherland of the first degree with Swords, and both the Zhukov and Suvorov medals.