Senior manager at Russia's Transneft oil pipeline company dies suddenly, company says

A senior manager at Transneft, Russia's oil pipeline monopoly, has suddenly died in Moscow, the company said on Friday. Transneft, which praised the late man's professional skills, did not comment on the cause of his death. The TASS state news agency cited a law enforcement source as saying that Badalov appeared to have taken his own life and had left a farewell note.

A senior manager at Transneft, Russia's oil pipeline monopoly, has suddenly died in Moscow, the company said on Friday. Transneft said in a statement that Andrei Badalov, 62, a vice-president, had been in charge of the digitalisation and automation of Transneft's vast pipeline networks.

It said that Badalov - who joined the company in 2021 "during a difficult and stressful period" - had helped the company overcome complications related to IT systems arising from Western sanctions. Transneft, which praised the late man's professional skills, did not comment on the cause of his death.

The TASS state news agency cited a law enforcement source as saying that Badalov appeared to have taken his own life and had left a farewell note. Reuters could not independently confirm that.