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Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Putin's top sports university boss found dead inside head of 279ft tall statue
Professor Nikolay Chesnokov, 68, was found dead inside the famous The Motherland Calls monument in Volgograd - despite the popular Russian landmark being closed to the public The chancellor of Russia's top sports university has been found dead inside the head of a 279ft statue once considered the world 's tallest. Police are now probing the bizarre circumstances surrounding the death of Professor Nikolay Chesnokov, 68, who was discovered in the famous The Motherland Calls monument in Volgograd. He is believed to have been illegally inside the giant statue, which is currently closed to the public. Chesnokov was rector of the renowned Kremlin-funded Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture. In his last photo before climbing the statue, the ex professor was seen preparing to lay flowers at the site, which is considered a sacred war memorial. His body was found inside the head of the monument - more than 107ft above the ground and accessed via a hatch after a climb of 200 steps, some of which are on ladders, according to reports. The Russian Investigative Committee was today probing his death for any sign of foul play but other theories are that he stumbled and fell or suffered a heart attack. Chesnokov was a Soviet-era Master of Sport in Athletics, and an Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. The Motherland Calls in Volgograd was the tallest statue in the world from its completion in 1967 until 1975. The world famous statue commemorates the Battle of Stalingrad - the previous name for Volgograd - which took place in 1942-43. He died at the highest point it was possible to climb inside the statue, according to reports. 'He went up to the very top,' said one media outlet. According to locals, climbing to the head of the monument is a rare practice, and for people not involved in the maintenance of the monument, it is also illegal. His academy is seen as the best sports university in Russia, known for producing elite coaches, athletes, and sports scientists. It has strong connections to the Olympic movement and Russian sports federations, and offers programmes in sports medicine, physical education, kinesiology, and coaching. The committee said an investigation was underway, adding: 'According to preliminary data, the man's death does not have any signs of a criminal nature.'
Metro
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Mystery of how top sports professor was found dead inside famous Russian statue
The chancellor of Russia's top sports university has died inside the head of 'Motherland Calls', a World War II memorial that was once the tallest in the world. Nikolai Chesnokov, 68, fell ill this morning during an excursion to the 279-foot statue in the southern region of Volgograd. He was reportedly accompanied by colleagues from the Kremlin-funded Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture who attempted to resuscitate him, but to no avail. Baza, a Telegram channel with links to Russian security services, claimed the visit inside the monument had not been authorised as the statue is not open to the public. It also said that Chesnokov died of a heart attack, but this has not yet been confirmed by emergency services. Russian reports stated that inside the head of the statue, there is a small room, with a wooden floor and a bench, which can be accessed through a hatch. It is a steep climb of 200 steps – some of which are on ladders – to actually get to the top. Immediately before his climb, Chesnokov was preparing to lay flowers atthe eternal flame near the monument. He had travelled to Volgograd from Moscow to take part in a nationwide university sports festival, Russian media reported. More Trending The Russian Investigative Committee has been probing his death for any sign of foul play. Set on top of Mamayev Kurgan hill, the concrete sculpture was unveiled in 1967 in commemoration of the casualties of the the bloodiest battle of World War II, the Battle of Stalingrad – the previous name for Volgograd. This is where Soviet forces repelled Nazi Germany's advance at the cost of more than 1 million casualties. Motherland Calls was the tallest statue in the world from its completion until 1975. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Putin shows no sign of agreeing to ceasefire with rare visit to the frontline MORE: British man with same name as Russian rebel keeps getting mistaken on holiday MORE: Putin prepares for Trump phone call by launching largest drone strike yet on Ukraine
