Over 20 Russian Officials Die Mysteriously Since 2022 War Start

Since the onset of the war between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, over 20 high-ranking Russian officials, including ministers, deputies, and senior executives, have died under suspicious circumstances involving suicides, falls, sudden illnesses, or other unclear causes. Roman Starovoit, Russia's Transport Minister, was found dead from a gunshot wound hours after being dismissed by President Vladimir Putin, with official reports ruling it a suicide amid ongoing corruption investigations linked to his tenure as governor of the Kursk region. Other notable deaths include falls from buildings and sudden medical events affecting officials such as the deputy head of Vladivostok's administration, a general from the Interior Ministry, and the chief of Karelia's antitrust agency. Many of these deaths have sparked speculation and concern about the dangers facing Russian officials, with some observers suggesting a pattern of covert eliminations tied to political and military failures or corruption scandals. The Kremlin has typically described these deaths as suicides or accidents, while critics and opposition figures point to a climate of intimidation and violence within the Russian government. This unsettling trend reflects the heightened risks for Russia's political elite during the ongoing conflict and internal turmoil.