Another mystery Russian death as minister ‘who condemned Putin’s war in Ukraine’ falls fatally ill on flight to Moscow

A MINISTER believed to have privately condemned Vladimir Putin’s invasion has become the latest Russian elite to mysteriously die. Petr Kucherenko, 46, suddenly became ill on a flight while returning to Moscow from a business trip in Cuba on May 20. FacebookThe minister pictured with his wife, Diana Gurtskaya[/caption] Doctors rushed to give deputy science minister Kucherenko CPR after the plane made an emergency landing, but he was pronounced dead. It is understood heart problems are being blamed for Kucherenko’s death – but an autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday. According to independent journalist Roman Super, Kucherenko had previously blasted what he called Putin‘s “fascist invasion” of Ukraine. Super said he had spoken to Kucherenko, who had a 15-year-old son with Russian pop singer Diana Gurtskaya, just days before he left Russia as the country went to war last February. Writing on Telegram, he claimed Kucherenko told him to “leave as soon as possible” to save himself and his family. Kucherenko is reported to have said: ” In a year you won’t recognise Russia at all. You are leaving and doing the right thing.” Super claimed Kucherenko told him it was too late for him to leave and added: “They take away our passports.  “Yes, and there is no such globe that will now be happy with the deputy Russian minister after this fascist invasion.” The journalist also claimed Kucherenko said he managed in Russia by taking “handfuls of antidepressants and tranquillisers at the same time”. Kucherenko is the latest of a string of more than 40 mystery deaths within Russia’s top brass since the war began. Just last month, a wealthy pro-Putin MP and soft drinks oligarch with reported mysterious links to Britain was found dead. Nikolay Bortsov, 77, was discovered dead in his home. Bortsov had been sanctioned by the UK due to his support for Putin’s bloody war in Ukraine. But a leak in 2019 indicated the multi-millionaire had secretly obtained “indefinite leave to remain” status in the UK. And this was despite him being a staunch ally of the tyrannical Putin and a support in the Russian parliament, the State Duma. He was discovered dead at his home in the Lipetsk region of Russia with no cause given. Meanwhile, the body of Igor Shkurko, 49, deputy general director of Yakutskenergo was discovered in his cell in a detention centre after he was accused of taking a bribe. The day before his death, the executive had submitted appeals against what he claimed was an unjust bribery allegation. Experts believe many of the deaths high profile figures – ranging from oligarchs to scientists and even generals – could show the shadowy and bloodstained hand of the Kremlin. The 46-year-old is claimed to have condemned Putin’s invasion privately