Russian oil tycoon found dead in office, fourth death since war in Ukraine

Vitaly Robertus, vice president of Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil, allegedly committed suicide in his office. Lukoil said Robertus died on March 12, Euronews reported.

Ukrainian-American economist Roman Sheremeta wrote on Twitter: “Vitaly Robertus, deputy CEO of Russia’s largest oil company Lukoil, died suddenly at the age of 53 years old.” He did not give a cause of death.

“Any speculation on the cause of death?” he posted on X.

Before his death, Robertus complained of headaches and asked to take medication before going to the office, some local media reported.

He was later found hanging in his room.

“He didn’t leave for hours and didn’t answer his phone. Employees decided to enter his office and find his body. The executive died by suicide due to suffocation. He worked at the company for about 30 years,” a Telegram user said on Robertus’ the death note read.

According to Euronews, Robertus is the fourth Lukoil manager since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, and the latest in a long list of tycoons and billionaires to die under mysterious circumstances. Bit.

Earlier in May 2022, Alexander Subbotin, 43, a senior manager at Lukoil, was found dead in the basement of a house in the town of Mytishchi. He allegedly died of a drug-induced heart attack.

Later, in September 2022, 67-year-old Ravil Maganov, the former chairman of Lukoil, died after falling from a window at the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital.

In late October 2023, Vladimir Nekrasov, chairman of Lukoil’s board of directors, died at the age of 66 from what the company said was heart failure.