Retired Russian General Who Ran Tank Factory Dies "Suddenly" After Putin Snub

Putin critics or those perceived to be responsible for the underperformance of Russia weapons and/or heavy manufacturing - and who may have knowledge of Kremlin corruption or poor decision-making have been dying unexpectedly at a surprisingly high rate in 2022, especially as Russia's Ukraine invasion continues to go badly. JL

Will Taylor reports in LBC:

General Alexei Maslov, who was in charge of the Russian ground forces between 2004 and 2008, passed away “suddenly”, the Uralvagonzavod company said. (He was the director of Russia's largest) tank manufacturer. He died on Christmas Day, one day after Putin was reportedly due to visit the tank factory in Nizhny Tagil but cancelled at the last minute. Other businessman said to have been critical of Putin or the war have died in recent months – with some suggesting foul play.

General Alexei Maslov, who was in charge of the Russian ground forces between 2004 and 2008, passed away “suddenly”, the Uralvagonzavod machine building company said. 

The tank manufacturer did not elaborate further. 

He died on Christmas Day, one day after Putin was reportedly due to visit the tank factory in Nizhny Tagil but cancelled at the last minute. 

No official reason was given for the sudden decision to scrap the trip. The sudden death will only fuel speculation surrounding deaths of notable Russians throughout 2022.

Recently, Alexander Buzakov, who was the director of an organisation building new submarines, died aged 65. 

And it has emerged that Pavel Antov, a businessman who ran a meat production firm, fell out of a window on the third floor of a luxury hotel in India, where he was staying ahead of his 66th birthday. 

He had previously criticised Russian missile attacks on Ukraine as “terrorism” before later claiming his WhatsApp post was sent by someone else, and insisting he supported Putin and the objectives of the war.

Indian police said they believed he may have taken his own life after his friend died in the same hotel, while Russia’s consul-general in Calcutta insisted there was nothing suspicious about the death. 

Other businessman said to have been critical of Putin or the war have died in recent months – with some suggesting foul play. 

Among them was Mikhail Watford, who was found dead at his home in Surrey, and Ravil Maganov, the chairman of energy giant Lukoil, who apparently fell from a window of a hospital in Moscow.