Kirill Stremousov Dead: Russia-Appointed Kherson Leader Killed in Crash

Kirill Stremousov, a Kremlin-installed leader of occupied Kherson in Ukraine, has been killed, according to local media reports.

The death of Stremousov, deputy head of the Russian-appointed military-civilian regional administration, was first reported by Russian military journalist Semyon Pegov, blogger Boris Rozhin and the state-run news channel Russia Today (RT). Later, the press secretary of the head of the region confirmed the news, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

Russian military correspondents in Kherson say Stremousov died in a car accident at Genichesk in the Kherson region. Pegov said that Stremousov's death was confirmed by his personal driver.

The region's health minister, Vadim Ilmiev, told reporters that the accident occurred on the Kherson-Armyansk highway. The circumstances surrounding the accident are currently under investigation.

Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed head of Kherson, also commented on the news of Stremousov's death, saying that his family would be supported.

"He is a father of many children—he has five children and the sixth is due to be born soon. Of course, we will take care of all of them," said Saldo.

He said on his Telegram channel: "It is very hard for me to say that Kirill Stremousov died today. He died on the territory of the Kherson region, moving in a car that got into an accident."

Stremousov posted a video address on his Telegram channel earlier on Wednesday, in which he gave an update on the situation in Kherson, where Kyiv is waging a counteroffensive.

He became deputy head of the Kherson region military administration after the area fell to Russian forces in the early stages of the war, which began after President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February.

Stremousov was the first official to announce Russia's plans to annex Ukrainian regions following referendums that have been decried by the international community as illegitimate.

Last month, he lashed out at Russia's defense minister amid a successful counteroffensive by Ukraine to retake Kherson. He said that "incompetent military leaders" are to blame for the retreat of Putin's troops in the region.

Stremousov claimed that "many" have said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu should shoot himself amid Putin's flagging war.

"Many people say that the Minister of Defense, who allowed this state of affairs to happen, could, as an officer, shoot himself," Stremousov said on his Telegram channel at the time. "But, you know, the word 'officer' is an incomprehensible word for many."

One Ukrainian official expressed skepticism about the reports of Stremousov's death.

"Regarding the information spread by the occupiers and Russian sources regarding the death of collaborator Kirill Stremousov in an accident, so far we can neither confirm nor deny the information. It may be true, or it may be staged," Yuriy Sobolevskyi, first deputy head of the Ukrainian Kherson regional council, said on his Telegram channel.

In September, multiple Russian-installed officials were killed in a single day across Ukraine.

Moscow has accused Kyiv of carrying out targeted strikes against Russian-appointed officials who have been working with the Kremlin amid the ongoing conflict.

Newsweek reached out to Russian authorities for comment.

Update 11/09/22, 10:39 a.m. ET: This article was updated with further information and context.