Sergei Ivanov, the former Russian defence minister, Kremlin chief of staff, and a close ally of Vladimir Putin, has died at the age of 73. The cause of death was believed to be a "long term illness," according to sources.
Confirmation of Death and Kremlin Response
A Russian VTB United League basketball organisation, where Ivanov served as honorary president, confirmed his passing but did not disclose the cause. The Kremlin subsequently acknowledged his death. Putin expressed his "deep condolences" in a statement on the Kremlin's website, saying: "Vladimir Putin expressed his deep condolences to the family and friends of Sergei Ivanov upon his passing. I understand with all my heart what a bitter, irreparable loss this is."
The statement continued: "He was a man devoted to Russia who did a great deal for our country’s development and the strengthening of its sovereignty. His knowledge, experience, and energy were consistently in demand for complex and critical tasks."
KGB Origins and UK Visit
Ivanov and Putin first met in the 1970s while both served in the KGB. While Putin moved into local politics in St. Petersburg in the 1990s, Ivanov remained in intelligence, rising to senior officer in the Foreign Intelligence Service. During the Cold War, Ivanov entered Britain as a trainee spy, staying in a bed and breakfast in Ealing and posing as a Beatles fan. He later said: "I found it very interesting. I could apply the knowledge that I got in university and the Foreign Intelligence Academy. My interest in studying English as a language was due to my fascination with the Beatles' songs."
War Enthusiasm and False Flag Fears
Ivanov's death comes amid warnings that Putin may be planning a "false flag" assault on Russian soil to justify military action against the West. Poland's foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, cautioned: "This sounds like an announcement of a provocation. I expect an attack on Russian territory under a false flag, to which Putin will 'respond'." Sikorski drew parallels to Nazi Germany's 1939 Gleiwitz incident, which served as a pretext for World War II. Meanwhile, Russian state television military analyst Col. Yuri Knutov told audiences the "time has come" for Putin to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
