Russian Crime Boss Viktor Averin Dies in Boat Accident With Putin’s Cousin’s Husband Aboard

Viktor Averin, identified as one of the leaders of the Solntsevskaya organized crime group, has died after a boat overturned at a yacht club in Mytishchi, according to Telegram channels close to Russian law enforcement.

Among the six people on board was Viktor Khmarin Sr., the husband of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s cousin and the father of the CEO of RusHydro, according to Agenstvo on December 21.

According to the report, a boat carrying Averin and several others capsized at a yacht club outside Moscow.

Later, Averin’s wife confirmed said that six people—five men and one woman—were on the vessel. According to Telegram channel “Mash,” five of them managed to escape the water and reach shore using an air sled. The incident took place in the waters of the Admiral yacht club.

On December 21, Channel 112 said he suffered hypothermia and bruises. In addition to Averin and Khmarin, those on board reportedly included lawyer Viktor Perekatov, businessman Shamistan Aliev, bodyguard Ivan Abramoushin, and 18-year-old model Yekaterina Leonova.

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Anti-Fake

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According to the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, Averin and Khmarin were traveling to inspect a forest plot recently purchased by Averin. They set off from the Royal yacht club in Moscow toward the village of Pestovo on a hovercraft known as Sever, which Averin was reportedly operating. The channel said investigators are considering two possible scenarios, both treated as accidental: either the vessel turned and struck ice before capsizing, or it skidded while moving onto the ice, which then broke beneath it.

Earlier, Stanislav Orlov, who established the Russian reconnaissance and sabotage unit known as “Espanola,” has been killed inside Russia.

Pro-Russian military bloggers said Orlov, who used the callsign “Spaniard,” was fatally wounded by gunfire during an attempted detention. According to these reports, he was suspected of illegally embezzling 1.5 billion rubles, or roughly $18.5 million.

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