Former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov Dies at 73

Sergei Ivanov, a former Russian defense minister and longtime close ally of President Vladimir Putin, died on Friday, June 26, 2026. He was 73. The Kremlin announced his death but did not provide a cause. The VTB United League, a professional basketball organization where Ivanov served as honorary president, also confirmed his passing.

President Putin expressed his deep condolences to Ivanov’s family in a statement published on the Kremlin’s website. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the president deeply mourns the loss and has sent a telegram to the family.

Ivanov was a central figure in Russian politics and security for over two decades. He and Putin first met in the 1970s while serving in the KGB's Leningrad directorate. Their careers remained intertwined as Putin rose to power. Ivanov served as Putin’s deputy at the Federal Security Service (FSB) in 1998 and was later appointed secretary of Russia’s Security Council.

Putin named Ivanov defense minister in 2001, a position he held until 2007. In that role, he oversaw the second war in Chechnya. When Putin was required to step down due to term limits in 2008, Ivanov was widely viewed as the most likely successor. However,...