Russian Emergencies Minister dies in accident during Arctic civil defence exercise

Russia’s Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev has died in an accident during an Arctic civil defence exercise.

The ministry said Zinichev, 55, had died in Norilsk while trying to save a cameraman’s life.

The cameraman had fallen off a cliff during an interview, according to Margarita Simonyan, the head of a Russian broadcaster.

Zinichev had been emergencies minister since 2018 and for years was reportedly a



key member of President Vladimir Putin’s security detail.

A Kremlin statement said Mr. Putin had shared many years working with Zinichev and spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was a great loss.

Some 6,000 people were taking part in the large-scale Arctic drill.

The unprecedented two-day exercise was organised by Zinichev’s department and stretched across the Russian Arctic.