ST. PETERSBURG – Russian musician and radio host Vadim Stroykin, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, has died after falling from a 10th-story window in St. Petersburg.
His death occurred shortly after police raided his home, reportedly over allegations that he donated money to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Russian media outlets linked to the Kremlin reported that Stroykin, 58, jumped from his apartment window after officers arrived to search his residence. Authorities have not officially confirmed the circumstances of his death, and a preliminary investigation is underway.
Stroykin was accused of financially supporting Ukraine’s military, which Russia considers a terrorist organization. If convicted, he could have faced up to 20 years in prison.
A well-known musician and journalist, Stroykin was a frequent critic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He had posted anti-war messages on social media, calling Putin a “b**** who declared war not only on a brotherly nation but also on his own people.”**
Initially from Russia’s Ural Mountains, Stroykin gained prominence as a radio host for the Echo of Moscow, where he led a program called “Anthology of the Author’s Song.” He was a bard musician, a genre associated with Soviet-era political expression, and released several albums while running a guitar school and a travel agency.
Stroykin’s death follows a series of unexplained fatalities among high-profile figures in Russia, many of whom had criticized the Kremlin or held influential positions:
- Artur Pryakhin, a top Russian colonel, died earlier this week after falling 50 feet from a fifth-floor window.
- Colonel Alexey Zubkov, an Investigative Committee official, remains in critical condition after a similar fall.
- Mikhail Rogachev, a Russian businessman, died in September 2024 after falling 110 feet from his home window. Friends claimed he showed no signs of suicidal behavior.
- Ravil Maganov, the chairman of Russian oil giant Lukoil, fell to his death from a Moscow hospital window in 2022.
- Marina Yankina, a Russian Defense Ministry official, died in 2023 after falling from a 16th-floor window in St. Petersburg.
While Russian authorities have classified many of these deaths as suicides, critics argue that the pattern raises serious questions about the safety of Kremlin opponents.
Stroykin’s death has not been independently verified, and questions remain about the exact circumstances of his fall.
Russian authorities have launched an official investigation, though many remain skeptical given the history of mysterious deaths involving government critics.
As speculation grows, human rights organizations and international observers are calling for a transparent and independent inquiry into Stroykin’s death and the broader trend of unexplained fatalities in Russia.
