Ravil Ulfatovich Maganov, the chair of the Russian oil giant Lukoil, died on Thursday after an incident at the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital where he had been admitted. The news emerged from Russian agencies and swiftly drew reaction from the industry and state alike.
An anonymous source told Interfax that Maganov fell from the window of his hospital room this morning and succumbed to his injuries. The account from the agency emphasized the immediate nature of the tragedy, noting that the death followed the fall at the hospital.
The TASS news agency, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the incident occurred at 07:00 Moscow time (04:00 GMT) and was described as a death by suicide. The report added that Maganov, 67, had been hospitalized after a heart attack and was being treated with antidepressants, according to the same source.
Maganov had been with Lukoil in various leadership roles since 1993, initially serving in senior positions over exploration and production. His career within the company spanned decades, during which he steered strategy and operations at different levels of the organization.
In 2020, Lukoil’s board named Maganov chairman, succeeding Valeri Greifer, who had died earlier that year. His appointment marked a milestone in the company’s governance and continuity of leadership through a period of change in the global energy sector.
Following the news, the company and its executives expressed sorrow over Maganov’s death, with statements noting that he died after a serious illness. The company conveyed its condolences to colleagues and to those touched by his work in the industry.
Lukoil highlighted Maganov’s contributions, describing him as someone who played a pivotal role not only in expanding the company but also in advancing the broader Russian oil and gas sector. The statement credited his leadership with guiding Lukoil through periods of growth and transformation.
According to the company’s remarks, Maganov’s executive abilities helped propel Lukoil from a modest oil producer to a global energy company. He had previously led Langepasneftegaz, one of the trio of original production units that laid the foundation for Lukoil’s history and later evolved into the modern corporate structure of the group.