Russian football star killed in Ukraine after signing up to war to escape drugs conviction Former Russia football star Aleksei Bugayev has been killed while fighting in the conflict with Ukraine after joining Vladimir Putin's forces following a drug trafficking conviction.
Bugayev, who has died aged 43, made a name for himself as a footballer as he featured for Moscow clubs Torpedo and Lokomotiv and later Krasnodar while also picking up seven caps for the Russian national team.
He was part of the Russia team that featured at Euro 2004, playing two games at the championships before later retiring from football in 2010 aged 29.
Since his conviction, he declared his intention to fight in the Ukraine war given Russia's drive to recruit prisoners for the ongoing conflict.
However, Bugayev's life after football led to personal struggles as he was caught up in a drug trafficking operation last year.
