A look at all the troubling deaths linked to Russia since the beginning of Ukraine’s invasion
Be Interactive
A very suspicious and sudden death, as Andrey Michkov, father of the young and talented hockey player Matvei Michkov, was found dead in a pond after going missing for a few days. His son, whom many see being drafted early in the NHL in 2023, said he was devastated by the news. Andrey Michkov was only 51 years old.
Vladlen Tatarsky
Credit: Twitter
Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name is believed to be Maxime Fomin, was killed in a violent explosion at a café in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The criminal act is confirmed. Tatarsky supported the Ukrainian invasion. The arrest of a woman in connection with the attack was confirmed shortly after.
Viatcheslav Rovneiko
Credit: Twitter
The death of Viatcheslav Rovneiko strikes the imagination, he who was not only an oligarch, but also considered a spy for Putin and ex-KGB. He was nicknamed the Belgian spy.
Vladimir Makarov
Credit: Capture
Former Russian general Vladimir Makarov has been found dead and authorities are hinting at a suicide. Makarov's alleged depression and suicide come weeks after he was fired by Vladimir Putin himself.
Marina Yankina
Credit: Twitter
Marina Yankina, 58, finance and procurement officer for the Russian Defense Ministry's Western Military District, was pronounced dead after a fatal fall from a window of a building in St. Petersburg.
Alexei Maslov
Credit: Jason L. Austin
Former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces, he died unexpectedly in a military hospital.
Dmitry Pawochka
Credit: Capture
Former manager of Roscosmos, Sukhoi, Lukoil, Bank Menatep and Russdragmet. It seems he would have burn alive after falling asleep with a cigarette...
Magomed Abdulaev
Credit: RIA Derbent
Former Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Dagestan. He died after being hit by a car while crossing a street!
Vladimir Budanov
Credit: Capture
Vladimir Budanov died at the same hotel as his colleague and friend Pavel Antov, one of many suspicious deaths occuring since the Russian invasion of Ukraine so far.
Pavel Antov
Credit: Twitter
Pavel Antov, 65, a Russian politician and billionaire, was found dead at a hotel in Rayagada district, Odisha, India. Antov's death has sparked much speculation, as his friend Vladimir Budanov was found dead in the same hotel a few days earlier. Both men openly criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the police, Antov fell from a window on the third floor of the hotel.
Nikolai Mushegian
Credit: Nikolai Mushegian/Twitter
The suspicious death of the crypto genius Nikolai Mushegian reignites the most extravagant theories. He predicted his death just days before he was found drowned under nebulous circumstances.
Vladimir Makei - Belarusian Foreign Minister
Credit: Nina Zambrano DíazCancillería del Ecuador, WikiPedia CC by-sa 2.0
Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei died suddenly of unknown causes, according to several sources.
Pavel Pchelnikov - National railway company Russian Railways (RDZ)
Credit: East2West
Pavel Pchelnikov, an executive of the national railway company Russian Railways (RDZ), was found shot dead on the balcony of his apartment in Moscow. The man was 52 years old.
Anatoly Gerashchenko, Moscow Aviation Institute
Credit: Twitter
Anatoly Gerashchenko, the former director of the Moscow Aviation Institute reportedly died "accidentally" when he slipped and fell down a staircase at the institute's headquarters in the Russian capital.
Ivan Pechorin, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation
Credit: Courtesy
Ivan Pechorin, 39, was general director of the Far East Development Corporation. Vladimir Putin's point man for exploiting Russia's vast Arctic resources reportedly "fell into the sea" while sailing off the country's Pacific coast.
Ravil Maganov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lukoil
Credit: Sputnik
Ravil Maganov, the chairman of the board of directors of Lukoil, a private Russian oil company, reportedly jumped from the sixth floor of a Moscow hospital on September 1. According to authorities, Ravil Maganov was suffering from severe depression.
Alexander Subbotin
Credit: Wikipedia
Oligarch Alexander Subbotin, a member of the board of directors of Lukoil Trading House, a subsidiary of oil and gas giant Lukoil, mysteriously died on May 9 after receiving a mystical treatment from a shaman that caused him to suffer a cardiac arrest.
Sergey Protosenya, vice president of gas giant Novatek
Credit: Twitter - MattiasSvea
Sergey Protosenya's body was found hanged in front of the Spanish villa he was renting. His wife and 18-year-old daughter were found stabbed to death.
Vladislav Avayev, vice president of Gazprombank
Credit: Twitter - Free Ukraine
Vladislav Avayev, his wife and daughter were found dead in their Moscow apartment.
Vasily Melnikov, owner of the country's largest medical company MedStom
Credit: Twitter - Nexta
Vasily Melnikov died in his luxurious apartment in Nizhny Novgorod. He was found dead, as were his wife and two children.
Mikhail Watford, investor in the gas industry
Credit: Twitter - BBC
Mikhail Watford was found dead in the garage of his home in Wentworth, England. His wife and children were unharmed.
Alexander Tyulyakov, deputy director general of Gazprom
Credit: Twitter - Belorussians in Rome
Alexander Tyulyakov was also found hanged in his cottage in the village of Leninsky
Leonid Shulman, head of the transport department of Gazprom Invest
Credit: Twitter - Belorussians in Rome
Leonid Shulman was found dead in his cottage in the village of Leninsky where he was on vacation.