Tragic news emerged from the world of football as Kirill Kochetkov, a player from the Nizhny Tagil club Uralets-TS, succumbed to his injuries after a serious accident. Reports from RIA News quoted Dmitry Terekhov, who leads the Perm Territory Football Federation, confirming the young player’s passing on Wednesday morning. The news cast a somber shadow over the football community in the region, where colleagues, fans, and the clubs involved are processing the loss of a promising athlete who had already faced a difficult season.
Both Uralets-TS and Amkar have pledged their full support to Kochetkov’s bereaved family during this painful time. The clubs released statements expressing their condolences and noting their commitment to help the family access the resources and assistance they may need in the days ahead. In moments like these, football communities often rally around players and their relatives, providing practical help, emotional support, and a network of care that extends beyond the pitch.
Details about the night of the incident, which occurred on the Perm-Ekaterinburg highway, reveal that four players were involved. Evgeny Sitnikov, previously associated with Amkar, died at the scene; he was 33 years old. Kirill Kochetkov, meanwhile, was reported to be in serious condition at a hospital and placed in a coma for a period of time. Reports indicated that Akademi-Amkar students Denis Fedorochev and Kirill Mylnikov escaped serious injury, though they faced the emotional shock of witnessing their teammate’s deteriorating condition and the sudden loss of a fellow player. The accident cast a pall over the corridors of the football world, highlighting how quickly the lives of young athletes can change in an instant and reminding everyone of the fragility of life on the road and in training camps.
Looking back at Kochetkov’s career, the forward had been on a path that included a loan spell with Amkar, a club with a strong regional footprint and a history of developing local talent. His journey also touched other teams, including Torpedo Miass and Perm Zvezda, each stop contributing to his growing reputation as a dedicated player who combined work rate, discipline, and a willingness to take on new challenges. Transfer market reports had placed an estimated value on Kochetkov at around 25 thousand euros, a reflection of a young player who held potential and was still early in his professional trajectory, with scouts and coaches watching his progress closely as he navigated the demands of professional football in Russia.
In the public narratives that followed, it was noted that the former Russian national team player faced serious legal jeopardy in a separate matter, with reports suggesting a major criminal case and a potential prison sentence. This subsequent information, while part of the public discourse surrounding the broader football ecosystem and its players, did not relate directly to the accident or to the recent tragedy affecting Kochetkov and his teammates. It serves as a reminder of the many pressures that can swirl around professional athletes, from personal conduct off the field to the intense scrutiny that accompanies public life in sport. The focus in the wake of the crash, however, remained on the health of the injured players, the fate of those who had died, and the solidarity shown by clubs, families, and supporters as they navigated this difficult period. The football community in Russia, and particularly within the Perm region, continues to come to terms with the losses and to honor the memories of those who left the game far too soon. The road ahead for the teams involved will involve grief counseling, community outreach, and ongoing reminders of the importance of safety and care in all aspects of sport—the day-to-day travel, the training sessions, and the competitive pressures that accompany professional football in the country.