Top Russian ballet star, 39, who criticised Putin's invasion of Ukraine 'plunges 60ft to his death'

A apical Russian ballet prima who criticised Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has reportedly plunged 60ft to his death.

Vladimir Shklyarov, 39, was among the world's premier ballet dancers and had starred astatine the Metropolitan Opera successful New York and the Royal Opera House successful London.

His assemblage was recovered beneath his location connected Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment successful St Petersburg, named aft a leader of Russia's 1905 revolution. 

The Mariinsky Theatre successful St Petersburg did not accidental however Shklyarov had died and the Russian Investigative Committee indicated the 'preliminary origin of decease was an accident' but without giving a series of the events, according to authorities quality bureau RIA Novosti. 

A study from a crime quality bureau claimed helium had been leaping betwixt 2 balconies connected the 5th level of his residential block.

Unconfirmed by instrumentality enforcement, this mentation said helium was seeking to flight from his flat wherever his ex-wife ballerina Maria Shirinkina had locked him - astatine his petition - to halt him buying drugs.

The reports said helium was suffering from antecedently unreported and chartless drugs and intoxicant addiction problems, but determination are besides claims that this mentation is malicious and inaccurate.

The mates - precocious divorced - had a young lad and daughter.

The acclaimed planetary performer featured regularly successful Munich astatine the invitation of Putin's son-in-law Igor Zelensky, 55, antecedently caput of the Bavarian State Ballet, the 2nd hubby of the dictator's girl Katerina, 38, oregon Ekaterina, a high-kicking 'rock'n'roll' dancer. 

Ballerina Irina Bartnovskaya reported Shklyarov's decease arsenic a 'great tragedy', and pointedly attacked 'speculation successful the press', appearing to contradict the addiction version.

She gave a antithetic relationship of his past moments, stating he was connected painkillers and preparing for ft country earlier his death.

He went retired to fume connected 'a precise constrictive balcony' and fell 5 stories successful 'a stupid, unbearable accident.'

She insisted: 'He loved life, family, adored his children and his audience.'

It was besides revealed helium had written to his doc soon earlier his death, saying: 'We person to operate. I americium not ready, but determination is nary different mode out. I can't basal this pain.'

It is known that successful 2022 Shklyarov had issued a almighty critique of Putin's warfare successful Ukraine.

He had posted defiantly: 'Friends! I americium against the warfare successful Ukraine!

'I americium for the people, for a peaceful entity supra our heads.

'Politicians should beryllium capable to negociate without shooting and sidesplitting civilians, for this they were fixed a lingua and a head.

'My grandfather, Anatoly Filimonovich, graduated from schoolhouse successful Ukraine with a golden medal, my great-grandmother Sonya lived her full beingness successful Kyiv.

'It is intolerable to ticker everything that is happening contiguous without tears...

'I privation to dance...I privation to emotion everyone - that is the intent of my life...

'I bash not privation wars oregon borders. Vladimir Shklyarov.'

It is unclear if his warfare disapproval could beryllium related to his decease though galore Putin critics person suffered unexplained aboriginal deaths.