Russian president Vladimir Putin in his condolences to the loved ones of the deceased Russian emergencies minister Yevgeny Zinichev called his death an irretrievable personal loss, the corresponding telegram was published on the website of the Kremlin.
Zinichev died during an exercise in Norilsk while rescuing film director Alexander Melnik, the ESM said. Zinichev was 55 years old, he took over as minister in 2018 and was promoted to the rank of an army general in 2020. From 1987 to 2015, he worked in state security agencies.
" I am shocked by the tragic news of the death of Yevgeny Nikolayevich Zinichev. Please accept my sincere condolences and words of support at this sad hour. We have lost a real battlefield officer, a comrade, a man of great inner strength, courage and bravery who is dear to all of us. For me, this is an irretrievable personal loss. We were bound together for many years. I always knew that one could rely on Yevgeny Nikolayevich in any, the most difficult situation as a reliable and faithful friend and a professional of the highest level," the telegram reads.
According to the Russian leader, Zinichev devoted himself to serving the Fatherland, the people - "and, saving a human life, he took the risk without hesitation, died, fulfilling his duty to the end."
"We will keep in our hearts the bright memory of Yevgeny Nikolaevich Zinichev," the president concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti