Sergei Ivanov, Russia’s former defense minister who was at times viewed as a possible successor to President Vladimir Putin, has died at age 73. Multiple outlets report that Ivanov’s death comes after a career in senior Russian state roles, including a period as defense minister. PBS NewsHour also provides biographical context, saying Ivanov and Putin have known each other since the 1970s, when both worked as young KGB officers in Leningrad, then known as St. Petersburg during the Soviet era. Other coverage frames Ivanov as a figure who had been speculated about in Russian political discussions as a potential future leader, though the sources provided do not describe any formal succession role. Taken together, the articles emphasize Ivanov’s death, his age, his previous defense ministry leadership, and his long-standing personal connection to Putin, while avoiding details beyond what is included in the reports.