‘Sudden Russian Death Syndrome’ strikes again as bank vice-president Kristina Baikova, 28, dies in mystery

Her death was reported as a suspected suicide – although this is common in Russia before any investigation is carried out or when facts are unclear. In May meanwhile, Russia’s deputy science minister, Pyotr Kucherenko, thought to be a critic of the war, died suddenly after falling ill on a flight back to Moscow after a work trip in Cuba, the Mail Online reports. The family said the 46-year-old’s death was linked to a heart condition, but independent journalist Roman Super wrote after his death that his ‘old friend’ had spoken in private about his inability to escape Russia.