Aleksei Bugayev, who played for Russia at Euro 2004, has been killed aged 43 while fighting in Ukraine.
The ex-Lokomotiv Moscow defender declared his intention to fight for Vladimir Putin’s forces after being handed a nine-and-a-half year prison sentence on drug trafficking charges in southern Russia in September.
Russian authorities have made an effort to recruit in prisons throughout the conflict.
‘Unfortunately, the news about Aleksei’s death is true. It happened today,’ TASS news agency quoted the player’s father Ivan Bugayev as telling Russian publication Sport24.
According to Bugayev’s agent Anton Smirnov, the intense fighting has made it impossible to immediately recover his former client’s body.
Bugayev made his first-team debut for Torpedo Moscow in 2001 and went on to represent Tom Tomsk, Lokomotiv Moscow, Khimki and Krasnodar before retiring from the game in 2010 at the age of 29.
A centre-back by trade, Bugayev was capped seven times in total by the Russia national team, including two appearances at the 2004 European Championship in Portugal.
Bugayev played the full 90 minutes of Russia’s 2-0 defeat to tournament hosts Portugal before featuring in the side’s 2-1 victory over Greece – who would go on to lift the trophy.
Despite defeating Greece, Russia failed to advance beyond the group stage and Bugayev announced his retirement from international duty the following year.
Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the FA confirmed that England would refuse to play Russia at any level while the conflict wages on.
‘Out of solidarity with the Ukraine and to wholeheartedly condemn the atrocities being committed by the Russian leadership, the FA can confirm that we won’t play against Russia in any international fixtures for the foreseeable future,’ the statement read.
‘This includes any potential match at any level of senior, age group of para football.’
The news of Bugayev’s death comes just days after fresh hope emerged of potential peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the fighting set to enter its third year in February.
Speaking at a press conference in Saint Petersburg on Boxing Day, Putin said he was open to a Slovakian proposal to host negotiations with Ukraine to end a conflict.
More Trending
‘We are not opposed, if it comes to that. Why not? Because Slovakia holds a neutral position from our point of view,’ Putin told reporters.
However, Putin also stated that Russia could use a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile – known as Oreshnik – in order to achieve its goals.
‘We do not exclude the possibility of using it both today and tomorrow, if necessary,’ he added.
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has repeatedly faced criticism from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the apparent friendliness he has shown towards Russia since his return to power last year.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Mikheil Kavelashvili’s rise from Man City footballer to anti-west president of Georgia
MORE: What is the safest seat on an airplane during a crash?
MORE: Russia ‘shoots down Santa’ in viral video days after alleged involvement in crash
