Russian oligarch dies in mysterious circumstances 'after falling down stairs while visiting friends in France'

Another Russian oligarch has died in mysterious conditions, with the death toll among the country's elite building against the backdrop of Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

Dmitry Zelenov died on December 9 whilst dining with friends in the French town of Antibes, located on the French Riveria in the south-east of the country.

The 50 year old reportedly began feeling unwell before tumbling down a flight of stairs and sustaining head injuries, as per Mail Online.

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The real estate tycoon was then rushed to hospital but died despite the best efforts of doctors to save him.

According to the Telegram channel of Russian broadcaster Baza, Zelenov had underwent surgery a few weeks before his death.

Although information was limited, Baza reported that the surgery was to treat the oligarch's 'heart problems'.

Zelenov made his fortune as the co-founder of Don-Stroy, one of Moscow's biggest real estate empires.

He was featured on Forbes' list of most wealthy Russians, but his finances took a downturn after the financial crisis of 2008.

Zelenov's death is believed to be remarkably similar to that of Anatoly Gerashchenko, the former head of Moscow's Aviation Institute, who also died after allegedly falling down a flight of stairs.

Gerashchenko's death came two weeks after the demise of Ivan Pechorin, who was responsible for developing Russia's resources in the Arctic. He reportedly fell overboard whilst sailing in the Pacific Ocean.

These men are only a few of the many elites who have met grisly ends in the months since Putin launched his attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

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The authorities have repeatedly claimed these deaths to be accidents or suicides.

Some of the men who have died have been noted critics of Putin's war in Ukraine - including Ravil Maganov, the chairman of oil company Lukoil, who fell to his death from a Moscow hospital in early September.

Lukoil later confirmed his death and in a statement said their chairman had died after a 'serious illness', while Russian media claimed he had taken his own life by jumping out of a sixth storey window.

In March this year, Maganov had called for 'the soonest termination of the armed conflict' triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Lukoil said they supported a supported a 'lasting ceasefire'.