Former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has died. His death was reported by the VTB United League, of which he was the honorary president.
Ivanov was 73. He was regarded as one of the most influential Russian officials of recent decades and held a number of senior state positions.
At different times, Sergei Ivanov served as deputy prime minister and first deputy prime minister, was defense minister, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and also head of the presidential administration.
From 2016 until February 2026, he served as the presidential special representative for environmental protection, ecology, and transport. Until recently, Ivanov also remained a member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.
In 2007, Ivanov was considered one of the most likely candidates to become Vladimir Putin’s successor. However, he lost that internal power struggle to Dmitry Medvedev.
The first report of Ivanov’s death was published by the VTB United League, with which he was associated as honorary president.