Vyacheslav Demidenko, a 19-year-old native of Kaliningrad, served as a sailor on the cruiser Aurora and drowned on the Bolshaya Nevka. Rescuers located his body near the Sampsonievsky Bridge, according to Fontanka. The incident began in the early hours of August 11, when the young man disappeared near the bridge while sailors were moving from the Military Medical Academy toward the cruiser stationed on the Petrogradskaya embankment. One sailor had entered the water in the process.
Information from AZHUR sources indicates the 112 service was notified at about 8:00 Moscow time. The search for the young man continued through the first day without success; night fell with no results, and then the search resumed the next morning. Divers took part in the operation, and the bottom was scanned with an echo sounder. The body was recovered on the third day of the search. Criminal proceedings were opened under Article 110 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which addresses instigation of suicide, as reported by Fontanka and corroborated by official sources.
Military investigators are questioning colleagues and relatives, and the sailor’s family has confiscated his old phone for examination.
“According to the personal file, he was an ideal candidate”
The sailor’s mother, Natalia Demidenko, disputes the suicide theory and expressed confidence that her son did not take his own life. She noted that Vyacheslav had passed a professional selection process before joining the cruiser, which included psychological testing. She highlighted that his stress resistance was rated highly, a point echoed by others close to him. The commander described Vyacheslav as a remarkable young man, with consistently positive assessments from peers and no reported conflicts within the unit.
Natalia added that serving on the Aurora is akin to serving in a prestigious, tightly run unit. She recalled that the captain personally met with families to understand their background, and that Vyacheslav’s personal file indicated strong resilience under pressure. A recent remark from an inspector reinforced the view that Vyacheslav appeared to be an exemplary recruit.
The last meeting between Vyacheslav and his mother took place on August 6. He did not share any problems or conflicts during that conversation. Natalia said Vyacheslav mentioned feeling bored, and she acknowledged the sense of missing home that often accompanies service, especially for young people and their partners. A cousin of the deceased told the outlet Gazeta.Ru that the tragedy should be viewed as an accident rather than a deliberate act.
A family friend emphasized that the suicide narrative did not align with Vyacheslav’s character. He was described as an ordinary young man without major problems, with a close-knit family and a willingness to stand up for himself when needed. The family noted Vyacheslav’s strong desire to serve and his quick transition from graduation to military life. He had prepared for service in July, and the oath was planned for August 21, with his summer diploma ceremony already completed.
After finishing ninth grade, Vyacheslav pursued technical education at Kaliningrad’s Baltic Federal University, earning excellent marks on his diploma. He was summoned in the summer of 2022 and appointed to duty as a squad shooter in Saint Petersburg, following his assignment for service. His mother recalled that the diploma presentation occurred in early July, and the drafting into the armed forces followed shortly after.