Top Russian businessman with Putin ties dies as string of mysterious deaths continues

 One of Vladimir Putin's closest allies has mysteriously died at the age of 57. It comes after a string of similar deaths as Putin prepares to meet Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss a possible end to the war in Ukraine.

Mikhail Kenin, one of the most successful businessmen in Russia, was the largest shareholder in a major Russian property empire. However, the company he served for years working at confirmed he had passed away on Sunday (August 10).

The reasoning for Mikhail's death has not been publicly made available, according to Intellinews. However, his bizarre and sudden passing comes as the latest in an increasingly suspicious string of deaths of some of Russia's economic elite.

Kenin had been the lead shareholder of the Russian property developer Samolet Group, and had snapped up a huge slew of new properties being built in the Moscow area. According to the latest figures, Samolet is one of the four listed developers trusted by the Kremlin, and had a steady price on the Moscow stock exchange.

Following Putin 's invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, Samolet was left undeterred by the economic collapse surrounding it. Instead, it rejected the calamity of Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine, and has continued to pledge huge sale numbers, believing market projections to be underselling the true scale of the market.

In a statement, Samolet confirmed that Mikhail had passed away suddenly in his mid-50s, writing: "We are sad to confirm that today, on August 10, entrepreneur and investor Mikhail Kenin passed away." The company would go on to offer their condolences to Mikhail's family and friends.

Samolet added that Kenin had been "one of those people who leave their mark on the earth". They added: "A rare person, gifted with natural talents, an excellent organiser and successful entrepreneur - ready to take risks and make difficult decisions," before hailing him as the spearhead behind Russia's so-called "economic boom".

In total, Kenin had held about 32% of the shares in Samolet, but had reportedly been trying to sell his share of the business back in November. This came as Samolet's sales plummeted in 2024 by 44% due to steep interest rate increases and mortgage tax cuts being removed.

Mikhail's death comes as Putin continues to prepare for an international summit with American President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday (August 15). The two leaders are expected to discuss a way to open talks for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the war in Ukraine.

However, as Trump and Putin gear up for their first face-to-face meeting as leaders in six years, several European leaders - including Sir Keir Starmer - have urged both Washington and Moscow that Ukraine should be present during these negotiations. It added that any deal done about Ukraine should include President Volodomyr Zelenskyy.

It comes as former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev continues to provoke Trump into intervening in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Last weekend, the former leader urged the White House to step in amid claims that "drug cartel leaders" were being drafted into Kyiv to fight for the cause.