20 Russian officials die under mysterious circumstances since start of full-scale war — media

Among the most recent cases are two officials from Russia’s Ministry of Transport.

Official reports claimed that Minister Roman Starovoit died by suicide, while his deputy Andrey Korniychuk reportedly died of heart failure.

From 2022 to 2024, at least 18 similar deaths were recorded among former and current officials, including:

• Foreign Intelligence Service generals Vyacheslav Trubnikov (unclear circumstances) and Lev Sotskov (died by suicide)

• Zalym Kerefov, pro-rector of the Russian Customs Academy (slashed his wrists in pre-trial detention)

• United Russia MP Pavel Antov (fell from a window in India)

• Ivan Pechorin, director of aviation at the Far Eastern Corporation (fell from a boat)

• Deputy head of the Interior Ministry's extremism division, Vladimir Makarov (gunshot wound)

• Deputy Science Minister Petr Kucherenko (died on a plane after returning from Cuba)

• Chief financial officer of Russia’s Western Military District, Marina Yankina (fell from the 16th floor).

In 2025, a new wave of suspicious deaths has emerged, with officials dying nearly every month:

In January, the deputy head of Vladivostok’s administration died in Thailand.

In February, a general from the Interior Ministry reportedly took his own life.

In March, a regional official from Arkhangelsk collapsed during a hockey match.

In April, a deputy director of the Federal Penitentiary Service in Krasnoyarsk was found dead in an apparent suicide.