Vladimir Putin in MOURNING! His Would-Be Successor Has Died

One of Vladimir Putin’s closest associates has died. Sergei Ivanov, Russia’s former defense minister and an influential figure within the Kremlin’s inner circle of power, has died at the age of 73, according to information reported by Nexta. The cause of death has not yet been announced.

Over the years, Sergei Ivanov was considered one of the Kremlin leader’s most trusted allies. Coming from the ranks of the Soviet KGB, he worked in foreign intelligence before taking charge of Russia’s Ministry of Defense. He later held several senior government positions, including deputy prime minister and chief of the presidential administration.

Ivanov and Putin had a close relationship dating back to their time in the Soviet intelligence services. Both men were born in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg, and their professional paths crossed at several key moments during Moscow’s political transformation.

Throughout his career, Sergei Ivanov was among the Russian officials who criticized NATO’s expansion, describing it as a strategic threat to Russia. He repeatedly argued that European security should be built on the basis of “mutual respect for the concerns and interests of all parties.”

Years later, Vladimir Putin would invoke similar arguments to justify the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, claiming that NATO had exceeded acceptable limits of influence near Russia’s borders. This justification was rejected by Kyiv and Western countries.

From the KGB to the Kremlin’s Inner Circle of Power

Born in Leningrad, Sergei Ivanov studied foreign languages before being recruited by the KGB, where he began his career around the same time as Vladimir Putin. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, he continued to rise through the institutions that succeeded the former Soviet intelligence service.

Ivanov became deputy director of the FSB, which at the time was headed by Vladimir Putin. In 2001, he was appointed defense minister, becoming the first civilian to hold the position in modern Russian history.

His influence grew even further in 2005, when he was appointed deputy prime minister. Two years later, in 2007, he became first deputy prime minister, at which point he was widely seen as one of the most likely successors to Vladimir Putin.

Ultimately, the Kremlin leader chose Dmitry Medvedev as his temporary successor, while Ivanov remained in the government. He was later appointed chief of the presidential administration, one of the most important positions within the Kremlin apparatus.

In 2016, Sergei Ivanov was replaced in that role and appointed special presidential representative for environmental protection and transportation, a move interpreted by many observers as a political demotion.

Following the announcement of his death, the Kremlin issued a brief message of condolence. “Vladimir Putin expressed his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sergei Ivanov following his death,” the official statement said.

So far, Russian authorities have not provided details about the cause of death, nor have they said whether the former official had been suffering from any medical condition.