Igor Nesterov, a Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) mercenary who acted as the trainer of Russian boxer Oleksandr Povetkin, was killed during combat in the Republic of Mali, sources in Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (HUR) told Kyiv Post on Friday, July 18.
The Wagner Group is a Russian armed formation declared in the West to be an international criminal and terrorist organization. The mercenary group, whose members include individuals convicted of serious crimes, was established in Russia in 2013 to Represent Moscow in armed conflicts without deploying regular military forces.
According to intelligence sources, Nesterov was killed while carrying out a “combat mission” in northwestern Africa. Wagner previously claimed its “mission” in Mali had been completed, but its fighters continue to suffer losses in the region.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Nesterov had taken part in the war of aggression and was seen posing in photos alongside other Russian mercenaries.
Nesterov was not only Povetkin’s trainer and sparring partner but also said to be “one of Povetkin’s closest friends,” who was also a vociferous supporter of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Povetkin is a former Olympic and world boxing champion who won the super-heavyweight gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and held the WBA (2011–2013) and WBC interim (2020–2021) heavyweight titles, and fought top names like Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua, and Dillian Whyte. Povetkin retired in 2021 and was later banned for four years by the International Testing Agency (ITA) over a doping violation.
The Olexander Povetkin Foundation posted a short message confirming Nesterov’s death and expressed condolences to his family:
“The passing of Igor Nesterov is a great loss for the entire boxing family. It is hard and bitter to realize that he is no longer with us.”
“On behalf of the promotion company ‘World of Boxing,’ we express our deep condolences to the family and friends of Igor.”
Povetkin also reacted to the news on his own behalf, confirming the death by saying: “Igor Anatolyevich Nesterov, unfortunately, has died.”
Russia’s Ministry of Defense has issued no official comment.
Nesterov’s wife, Zhanna Nesterova, said he had served in Ukraine before heading to Africa, though she did not specify exactly where and with which unit he served. According to her, Nesterov “always wanted to be on the SVO (Russia’s so-called ‘special military operation’) and to return there,” believing he was defending his family and country. She added that he would be buried in the Moscow region town of Chekhov, though the date of the funeral remains unknown.
Wagner mercenaries have helped the Russian government extract natural resources in Africa, including, according to The Blood Gold Report, an estimated $2.5 billion worth of gold in the past two years. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is said to have used this to help fund his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ongoing since February 2022.
Kyiv Post obtained an exclusive photo in July 2024 from sources in Ukraine’s defense and security sector which showed Tuareg rebels posing with a Ukrainian flag after dealing a major defeat on Russian state-funded Wagner mercenaries in Mali.