Top Lukoil executive dies 'suddenly' in Russia, latest in series of 'coincidental' deaths

Vladimir Nekrasov, chairman of the board of directors of Russian Lukoil, has died, reported the press service of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine with reference to the company's statement.

Nekrasov was 66 years old. According to the preliminary conclusion of the doctors, the death occurred as a result of acute heart failure.

This is not the first case of sudden death among top managers of the Russian oil giant. In early September 2022, Lukoil Vice President Ravil Maganov fell out of the window of the Central Clinical Hospital, where he was being treated for heart problems.

Nekrasov's death became the tenth among the top managers of Russia's major energy companies who died under dubious circumstances starting in 2022.

Last January, 60-year-old Leonid Shulman, who held a high position at Gazprom, was found dead, and in February 61-year-old Aleksandr Tyulyakov, also a Gazprom executive, was found dead. Both Gazprom executives allegedly died by suicide, though suicide notes were reported to have been left behind.

In April, the former Vice President of Gazprombank Vladislav Avayev, his daughter and his wife were found dead in Moscow. According to the investigation, Avayev first shot his relatives, and then shot himself.

A few days later, a similar incident occurred in Spain, where the former Novatek top manager Sergey Protosenya, his wife and daughter were found dead. The police also considered the line of enquiry that Protosenya could have killed his wife and daughter, and then committed suicide.

In July, Yury Voronov, head of the transport organization Astra Shipping, which was involved in Arctic contracts for Gazprom, was found shot dead in the suburbs of St. Petersburg.

Lukoil is the second largest oil producer in Russia: it produces 20% of the country's oil.

This year, due to sanctions from the USA and the EU, Russia's income from oil sales fell by 43% compared to last year, according to the Ministry of Energy.