Death of Sergei Ivanov, former Russian Minister of Defense and close ally of Vladimir Putin

Sergei Ivanov, former Russian defense minister and historical figure in President Vladimir Putin's inner circle, has died at the age of 73, the Kremlin announced.

In a brief statement, the Russian presidency indicated that Vladimir Putin had offered "his sincerest condolences" to the family and loved ones of the man who was one of his most loyal collaborators.

A former KGB officer, like Putin, Ivanov belonged to the group of siloviki, these officials from the security services who occupied key positions in the Russian state apparatus after the president came to power in the early 2000s.

For several years, Sergei Ivanov was considered a potential successor to Vladimir Putin. He served as Minister of Defense from 2001 to 2007, notably overseeing the armed forces during the Second Chechen War, before holding several high-ranking positions in the Kremlin, including head of the presidential administration. More recently, he served as the President's Special Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology, and Transportation.

Fluent in English, Ivanov regularly participated in major international security forums, notably the Munich Conference. He presented himself as a pragmatist seeking to overcome the divisions inherited from the Cold War, while repeatedly expressing his opposition to NATO enlargement, which he considered a threat to Russia's security.

His death marks the passing of one of the most influential figures of the generation of leaders from the Soviet security services who accompanied Vladimir Putin for more than two decades at the top of Russian power.