A Russian oil executive, Andrei Badalov, aged 62 and vice president of the state-owned oil pipeline monopoly Transneft, died on Friday after falling from a window of his home in Western Moscow. His death has been ruled a suicide, according to reliable sources. This incident is the latest in a series of unexplained deaths involving high-profile Russians, notably those dying from falls.
Reports indicate that Badalov was discovered on the ground below his apartment block on Friday morning. Law enforcement officials conveyed to the Russian-owned Tass news agency that his death is preliminarily considered suicide. A ‘farewell note’ was reportedly found at the scene.
We should note that Badalov had been guiding Transneft’s digital transition since his appointment as vice president in July 2021. His untimely death follows a string of similar incidents involving Russian businessmen, state officials, and industry leaders since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian media have reported a range of cases, some officially labeled as suicides, others suspected murder-suicides, mysterious accidents, or unexplained falls. In April 2022, Gazprombank’s Vice President, Vladislav Avayev, was found dead alongside his wife and daughter in Moscow. Initial reports suggest that Avayev shot his family before taking his own life.
This development follows earlier reports that the bodies of former Novatek gas producer executive Sergei Protosenya, his wife, and daughter were discovered in a villa in Spain. Spanish media reported that Protosenya killed his family before hanging himself.
Ukrainian military analyst Ivan Stupak suggests that Russia’s security services may be behind many of these deaths, though not all are believed to be politically motivated. Some, he suggests, might stem from internal business disputes.
The significance becomes clear when we consider the recurring pattern of deaths resulting from falls. Since 2022, at least seven such incidents have been reported. The most recent being the death of Russian singer-songwriter Vadim Stroykin, who fell from the 10th floor of his St. Petersburg apartment during a raid by Russian security forces.
The evidence suggests a troubling trend in high-profile Russian deaths. A matter that raises important questions about the circumstances surrounding these incidents. The significance of this should not be overlooked.
