Alexei Bugayev was 43 years old. © Social Media/X

Former Russian national player dies at the front

Former Russian national football player Alexei Bugaev was killed in Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

30 December 2024

From: dpa

“Unfortunately, the news of Alexei’s death is true,” said Ivan Bugayev, the 43-year-old’s father, in an interview with the Internet portal Sports.ru on Sunday evening and confirmed the news of his death. The seven-time national player was reportedly recruited by the Russian armed forces in prison.

Bugayev played professional football as a defender in Russia from 2001 to 2010, including for Lokomotiv Moscow and FK Krasnodar. He made two appearances for the Russian Sbornaya at the European Championships in Portugal in 2004.

In 2023, he was arrested for attempted drug trafficking and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison in September 2024. There he was recruited as a soldier by the armed forces. Russia uses many prisoners to wage its war against Ukraine.