Kathrine Frich
A winter accident outside Moscow has drawn attention far beyond the icy river where it unfolded.
Footage circulating online shows a vessel spinning out of control before disaster strikes.
One passenger survived against the odds, while another did not. The identities involved have turned a local tragedy into a national talking point.
Icy disaster
A relative of Russian President Vladimir Putin was injured when a hovercraft overturned near a yacht club outside Moscow, killing a senior figure in Russian organized crime.
The Sun reported that the crash happened on December 21 as the craft travelled across frozen water.
Video footage shows the hovercraft skidding, smashing into ice and flipping upside down after passing under a bridge.
It remains unclear why the vessel suddenly lurched and capsized.
Six people were on board at the time of the accident. Emergency services later confirmed that only one passenger died.
Crime figure killed
The victim was Viktor Averin, 68, described by The Sun as the second-in-command of the powerful Solntsevskaya crime gang.
Known in criminal circles as “Aver the Elder,” he later became a businessman and sports patron.
Reports cited by the outlet say Averin was operating the hovercraft when it overturned. He allegedly did not hold a licence to control the vessel.
Divers were sent to recover his body from the icy water, while other passengers managed to escape.
Putin connection
Among those on board was Viktor Khmarin, 76, a former university classmate of Putin who later married the president’s cousin, Lyubov Kruglova, in 1976.
Khmarin reportedly swam through freezing water to reach safety.
The Sun said Khmarin suffered from exposure and required medical attention. Another passenger was taken to hospital with head injuries.
An additional survivor was identified in reports as an 18-year-old OnlyFans model, who crawled across thin ice to escape the wreckage.
Questions remain
One account of the incident said:
“A sideways skid occurred as the boat moved onto the ice. The ice broke, a pontoon struck it, and the vessel capsized. As a result, all passengers ended up in the water.”
Khmarin’s family maintains close ties to Russia’s political and energy elite.
His son, also named Viktor Khmarin, is the general director of state-linked energy company RusHydro, according to The Sun.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, including who was responsible for operating the hovercraft.
Sources: The Sun
