Last September, the “Wall Street Journal” estimated the number of Russian and Ukrainian dead and wounded at one million after two and a half years of war. Since then, this tragic toll has increased. Among the many victims of this armed conflict is now Aleksei Bougaev.
The latter, a former Russian international with seven caps, lost his life at the front. The news of the death of the man who occupied the position of defender during his professional career was confirmed on Sunday by his father and his agent to various Russian media. Information also reported by the English press agency “Reuters”.
“Unfortunately, the news of Aleksei’s death is true. This happened today,” his father, Ivan Bougayev, told the “Sport24” agency on Sunday. Anton Smirnov, his agent, told the RIA agency that the remains of the former player had not yet been recovered due to the violence of the current fighting. The funeral will therefore have to wait.
Aleksey Bugayev was 43 years old. During his past as a footballer, he notably participated in Euro 2004 in Portugal with his national team. This had been eliminated in the group stage, which did not prevent the rear from celebrating two appearances in this tournament.
In addition to this summit in the colors of “Sbornaïa”, Alekseï Bougaïev had worn – at club – the jerseys of Torpedo and Lokomotiv Moscow, before hanging up his crampons in 2010, then only 29 years old.
Subsequently, the former Russian international encountered legal problems. To the point of being sentenced, last September, to nine and a half years in prison for drug trafficking. With the authorities of his country encouraging detainees to come and reinforce their numbers engaged in this armed conflict which has now lasted 34 months, he expressed his wish to join the front in Ukraine. Where he finally died this Sunday.
