Former Russian national volleyball team player and one of the tallest blockers in domestic sports history, Aleksandr Kimerov, has died during combat operations in Ukraine, according to sources from Sport RBC.UA. Standing at 215 centimeters (7'1"), the athlete was a prominent figure not just on the court, but in any trench. According to information obtained by the Ukrainian outlet, Kimerov was enlisted in the 2nd Assault Company of the 5th Separate Tank Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, and communication with him was completely lost in August 2026. A fellow soldier who survived the same battle reported that the volleyball player was "panicking, darting around" and died instantly.
Sports Career: From Youth World Champions to Italy's Verona
In his youth, Aleksandr Kimerov was considered one of the most promising blockers in Russian volleyball. As part of Russia's youth and junior national teams, he became a two-time world champion, won the Universiade, and earned medals at the European Games. His club career spanned several seasons with Dynamo Moscow, Ural Ufa, Fakel Novy Urengoy, and a stint with the Italian club Verona. In photos from that period, Kimerov is seen wearing the number 18 jersey with sponsorship logos from Yugra Bank and EVRAZ — a typical look for Russian club volleyball in the mid-2010s.
Off-Court Scandals
However, Kimerov's reputation off the volleyball court was marked by a series of high-profile incidents. In 2017, he was removed from a flight for disruptive behavior and threats against the crew. In 2020, following a road rage incident, he got into a confrontation on the highway: according to reports, he kicked off a side mirror and damaged another driver's car. Later, in an interview, Kimerov openly admitted to drug dependency, which was an additional blow to the image of an active national-level athlete.
Doping, Conviction, and Ministry of Defense Contract
Kimerov's sports career was officially terminated in the summer of 2023 when he was disqualified until December 2024 for using banned substances. In the spring of 2026, according to Sport RBC.UA, he was convicted of robbery involving violence and ended up behind bars. To avoid serving his term in a penal colony, Kimerov signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense in July 2026. While reports in Russian media circulated about a "six-month service" term, sources from the Ukrainian outlet indicate that he actually spent only about a month on the frontline.
Assault Company and Lost Contact
The 215 cm giant was sent to the 5th Separate Tank Brigade and assigned to the 2nd Assault Company. By August 2026, all communication with him had ceased. A fellow soldier who survived and was interviewed by Sport RBC.UA described the circumstances of his death: "He had no idea where he was; he thought it would be like training or on a plane, where you could just throw a tantrum and everything would be resolved. But at 215 centimeters, there was simply nowhere to hide in an assault company — he stuck out of every trench. When we were thrown into our first real mission, fire started coming in from everywhere. He was panicking and darting around, and in that hell, he was simply obliterated along with the rest of the group. He died instantly; there was nothing left of him to send home."
Attempts to Silence the Story
According to the same sources, Russian command and Kimerov's fellow soldiers tried to keep his death quiet for a long time to avoid negative resonance regarding the Russian Armed Forces and the sporting community. A blogger who produced a documentary about the volleyball player's criminal past and his deployment to the front was pressured into deleting the material from all platforms. The story only gained wide publicity after distant relatives, having received no news from him, raised the alarm. As of the publication date (November 11, 2026), there is no official confirmation of his death from the Russian Ministry of Defense in public sources.
