• Sergei Ivanov, former Russian defense minister, has died at the age of 73.
• He was once considered a possible successor to President Vladimir Putin.
• His death was confirmed by the Kremlin, which offered condolences to his family.
• Ivanov oversaw the Russian armed forces during the second Chechen war.
• He held multiple influential positions in Russian government throughout his career.

Sergei Ivanov, a prominent figure in Russian politics and a former defense minister, has died at the age of 73. The Kremlin confirmed his passing, although no cause of death was provided. Ivanov was once viewed as a potential successor to President Vladimir Putin, having served as defense minister from 2001 to 2007 during significant military engagements in Chechnya, reports Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

Born in Leningrad, Ivanov first met Putin during their service in the KGB in the late 1970s. He played a significant role in shaping Russia’s post-Soviet military strategy and management of security, especially during the violent conflicts in Chechnya. His rise to political prominence saw him appointed deputy prime minister and later served as the Kremlin chief of staff, a position he held until 2016 when he was assigned to a less significant role in environmental protection and transportation, considered by many as a form of retirement, according to India Times and Reuters.

Ivanov was initially viewed as a strong contender for the presidency when Putin had to step down due to term limits in 2008. However, Putin chose Dmitry Medvedev instead, allegedly due to concerns over Ivanov's ambitions. This decision reshaped Ivanov's role within the government, as he continued to work closely with Putin in various capacities until his recent dismissal. Understood to be suffering from a long-term illness, Ivanov's death marks the end of an era for the "siloviki," a group of influential leaders from Soviet times, reports India Times and Los Angeles Times.