Another high ranking Russian defence official found dead

The Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2014 when the latter annexed Crimea. Now the conflict has blown into a full fledged war and has been criticised internationally

A high-ranking defence official in Russia has died after falling from the window of a building in St. Petersburg.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, Marina Yankina who headed the financial support division of the of the Russian Ministry of Defence for Eastern Military District was found by a passerby at the entrance of a house on Zamshina Street in St. Petersburg.

The report also said that Yankina is believed to have fallen 160 feet to her death. She was a key figure in the funding of Russia's military action in Ukraine. The Russian Investigative Committee and the press service of the Western Military District 'Fontanka' confirmed her death and have begun investigations into the mysterious death.

Citing a media outlet, 'Mash on Moika' the news report said that Yankina had called her ex-husband and told him what she was planning to do. Her personal belongings were found on the 16th floor of the building.

The report said, 'she told about what was going to do and where she would leave things and also asked to call the police. A few minutes later after the call, she was found dead.'

Prior to joining the Western Military Region, she had served in the Federal Tax Service and also worked as the Deputy Chairman of the Property Relations Committee of St. Petersburg. Reports said she was at the centre of efforts to strengthen funding for the war that began on February 24.

Marina Yankina is among the many in Russia who have plunged to their deaths during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The death comes days after Major General Vladimir Makarov, a Russian General was found dead in a suspected case of suicide. He had been fired by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a few days before his death.

On December 26, Pavel Antonov, the deputy of Russian Duma died in India after falling from a hotel window. The former chief of the Russian Ground Forces, Alksey Maslov died in hospital on December 25. Aleksandr Buzakov who had served as head of Russia's admiralty shipyards for over ten years died on December 24.

Russia-Ukraine war:

The Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2014 after the former annexed Crimea, a region of Ukraine. The annexation was condemned with Ukraine accusing Russia of supporting separatist rebels.

The conflict has now escalated into a full blown war. The war has resulted in many deaths and displaced over 1.6 million people.

The West has imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its actions.