Second sudden death of top official reported in Russia's military supply chain in less than a week

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Another sudden death of a top official in Russia’s military supply chain has been reported following a series unexplained deaths in the past week. 

Alexei Fedorovich Maslov, former commander in chief of Russia’s ground forces turned special representative for the military corporation Uralvagonzavod — which specializes in battle tanks — was reported to have unexpectedly died at a military hospital on Christmas Day at the age of 70.

The company took to Telegram to announce his death and said he "remained faithful" to Russia "until his last day."

An abandoned tank is seen after Russian forces withdrew from Balakliia, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, as the Russia-Ukraine war continues on Sept. 15, 2022. (Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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Maslov was reportedly born in the Kursk region, which neighbors northern Ukraine, and entered the Army before graduating from the Kharkiv Guards Higher Tank Command School in 1974 — nearly two decades before the fall of the Soviet Union, reported Euro Weekly.

By 2008, he became Russia’s chief military representative to NATO.

No explanation surrounding his death has been provided, though he appeared to die in Moscow at the N.N. Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital, over 1,000 miles west of the Uralvagonzavod plant where he allegedly worked in the city of Nizhny Tagil.

Some reports suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin was supposed to visit the tank manufacturing plant on Christmas Eve but unexpectedly canceled his plans, though Fox News Digital could not independently verify this. 

Russian President Putin watches the launch of a missile during naval exercises in Russia's Arctic North on board the nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky. (REUTERS/ITAR-TASS/PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE)

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Maslov’s death also followed the unexpected passing of 67-year-old Alexander Buzakov, the General Director of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, Admiralty Shipyards, which produces carriers for Kalibr cruise missiles, among others, on Saturday.

According to its website, Admiralty Shipyards has been described as the "foundation" of Russia’s navy and Buzakov reportedly attended the launch of the new submarine, Velikiye Luki, in St. Petersburg on Friday.

Buzakov championed the submarine as an important step forward for Russia’s naval ability.

"It symbolizes the end of a certain major stage and, of course, promises us many successful final steps in the construction of the vessel and its handover to the Navy," he said, according to Naval News. 

Russian navy ships are docked in the Sevastopol, Crimea, bay on March 4, 2014. (VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP via Getty Images)

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The submarine is reportedly a part of a fourth generation non-nuclear fleet that is considered the "most modern" submarine in terms of combat power.

Details around Buzakov’s death also remain unknown. 

Buzakov and Maslov’s deaths are just the latest in string of unexpected deaths among Russia’s top ranks, businessmen and dissidents since the war in Ukraine began.