Aleksandr Levin, co founder of the Syrovarnya restaurant chain and a renowned confectioner in Russia, died along with his family in a crash in the Oryol region, as reported by the Mash Telegram channel. The incident occurred on the night of March 24 in the Mtsensk district on the 306th kilometer of the M-2 Crimea highway, taking three lives in total.
According to KP Orel, a 40-year-old Mercedes Actros 2543 tractor driver drifted into the opposite lane and collided with a Mitsubishi Pajero SUV, driven by a restaurant operator. Mash reported that the truck lost control and struck the Mitsubishi at high speed. The press service of the Russian Interior Ministry in the Oryol region confirmed the accident happened around 00:40 local time.
The impact was described by Orlovsky Meridian as so forceful that the Mitsubishi transformed into a pile of metal.
One of the deceased was Svetlana Levin, the wife of Aleksandr Levin and a detective connected to the TV program Andrey Malakhov Live. Svetlana Levina, who worked with the detective agency, died at the scene along with her husband’s brother. Levin died while en route to the hospital.
Detective Maxim Zabolotny, Svetlana’s colleague, told RIA Novosti that Svetlana died, along with her husband and his brother. He noted that Svetlana left behind two children, a 17-year-old daughter named Alina and a son aged 20 or 21. The young family member born in 2010 survived the crash but was taken to the emergency department in critical condition. Doctors fought for nearly ninety minutes to stabilize the boy, and he remains hospitalized in the Mtsensk Central Regional Hospital under close observation as the situation is monitored for stabilization.
The truck driver was detained, and a criminal case has been opened under the clause of violating traffic rules resulting in the death of two or more persons due to negligence. Investigators have placed the driver under house arrest as they examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Arkady Novikov, co owner of Cheese Factory, commented to 360 on Levin’s funeral, noting that the ceremony had already taken place. He expressed sorrow for the loss and emphasized the presence of many talented individuals in the industry.
Detective Maxim Zabolotny also shared memories of Svetlana Levina as a colleague, praising her work in the detective service. He recalled that Levin and Levina had collaborated closely on several projects and had co founded the Cheese Factory with Novikov. Zabolotny extended his condolences to their family and friends.
What is known about the deceased shows that Alexey Levin helped found the Syrovarnya restaurant chain, which operates branches across Russia and internationally in Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. In a career spanning more than two decades, Levin progressed from culinary school to leadership roles in several notable kitchens. He initially worked in the FSB canteen, then joined the Le Duc restaurant started by Andrei Dellos after completing his military service. He later became a key confectionery foreman at Ju Ju before he and Arkady Novikov launched the Cheese Factory, where Levin crafted many distinctive desserts. Levin described his professional life in a 2014 interview as free of difficulty, driven by a genuine love of his craft, recalling childhood favorites such as Prague and Leningradsky cakes as his inspirations. The spouse of Svetlana Levina, who contributed as a specialist on the Andrey Malakhov program, was involved in public matters and investigations, adding to the array of expert voices that appeared on the show in 2021 to discuss the experiences of singer and actress Anastasia Makeeva. Two children remained from the Levin couple, while the couple’s nephew, born in 2010, survived the crash and faced critical condition in the hospital.