According to Russian media today, Yury Sadokhenko, 56, former Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, suddenly passed away on December 25th local time, and was a "long-time partner" of Shoigu, who was removed from his post last year; sources say he died of "heart disease."
Sadokhenko's sudden death at the age of 56 is another footnote to the recent series of abnormal deaths among Russian high-level officials, and the multiple backgrounds surrounding this "heart disease" death have left ample room for interpretation.
His "long-time partner" relationship with Shoigu spanned his entire career, from the Ministry of Emergency Situations to the Ministry of Defense, making him a core loyalist in Shoigu's team, and inevitably leading to his departure when Shoigu was reassigned in the major reshuffle of the Ministry of Defense in 2024. After being dismissed, he remained low-key for less than a year before suddenly passing away, and there had been no public record of illness prior to this. His death coincides with the strange causes of death of several other Russian officials and generals, such as "heart failure" or "falling to death," which has led to speculation about whether there may be hidden power struggles or undisclosed secrets behind the incident.
His personal life and professional career intertwining only adds to the poignancy — the fact that his ex-wife turned to a colleague, who later was imprisoned for massive corruption, makes this person, who once managed sensitive defense affairs, end his career abruptly and shrouded in mystery. Whether there will be a forensic examination or an official investigation announcement will be key to clarifying the nature of the incident.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852745984860228/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.