Vice President of Lukoil Vitaly Robertus has died

Vice President of Lukoil Vitaly Robertus died at the age of 53, according to a company press release. The reasons for his death are not stated.

The obituary states that Robertus's work history was related “exclusively” to Lukoil, where he worked for 30 years. He got a job at the company immediately after graduating from college as an economist.

The press release also notes that Robertus was awarded state and departmental awards. In addition, Robertus was the chief pilot of the Russian aviation sports club "Rusjet" and a multiple champion of Russia and the world in the class of radio-controlled models.

• Over the past two years, Robertus became at least the third top manager of the company to die. In September 2022, died the 67-year-old head of the board of directors of Lukoil, Ravil Maganov, . Russian media wrote that he fell out of the window of the hospital where he was being treated. The company itself reported that Maganov “passed away after a serious illness.” His post was taken by Vladimir Nekrasov, who died in October 2023 at the age of 66 from heart failure, the company said.
• Deutsche Welle noted that in 2022, “a number of deaths under mysterious circumstances” occurred among Russian millionaires and members of the elite, some of whom were associated with the oil and gas industry. An example was given by former top manager of Lukoil Alexander Subbotin, whose body was found on May 8, 2022 in a private house in Mytishchi. The cause of his death was given as heart failure.
• Novaya Gazeta Europe also wrote about “mysterious deaths” at Gazprom - died four top managers of the company in Russia in six months of 2022. According to journalists, they worked in structures allegedly associated with financial fraud on multi-billion dollar contracts with Gazprom.