Dmitry Rogozin, the former head of Roskosmos, issued a statement via a telegraph channel about the death of Oleksandr Shemyakin. He reported that Shemyakin, a former senior officer of the Special Operations Forces who had been dismissed by Ukrainian troops in Donetsk in December, had passed away in February. Rogozin conveyed that today Sasha Shemyakin had died and that doctors had done everything possible to save him, a sentiment he shared publicly.
Rogozin described Alexander Shemyakin as a true friend and patriot. He also published photographs he said were taken with Shemyakin on a December day at a command and observation post a few kilometers from the contact line. Rogozin noted that his friend was collaborating with snipers from a volunteer unit. He emphasized that later that evening, Ukrainian Armed Forces artillery targeted their position.
Rogozin added that Shemyakin was waiting at the Rostov military hospital emergency room while still conscious, though doctors warned that the wounds were severe. The incident underscored the ongoing and deadly nature of the conflict in the Donetsk area and its impact on individuals who served there.
Earlier in December, Donetsk was subjected to bombing activity by Ukrainian forces, which left Rogozin injured in the back and hospitalised. His adviser stated that a hotel on the city’s outskirts, where Rogozin and a group of military advisers resided, had been struck in the weeks prior.
In subsequent reports, Rogozin indicated that he was wounded and evacuated to a special military operations zone following a separate incident. The situation highlighted the continuous risks faced by military personnel and the far-reaching consequences of the conflict on leaders, advisors, and allied personnel.