Billionaire Mikhail Smirnov died in a motorcycle accident in the Leningrad region.

      On May 21, 2026, at 13:31, Incidents: In the Leningrad region, Mikhail Smirnov, a 53-year-old billionaire known for his activities in the oil industry, died in a car accident. The incident occurred on May 20 on the 49th kilometer of the "Peski - Sosnovo - Podgorye" highway in the Priozersky district, reports "KP-Petersburg."

      According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, Mikhail Smirnov, who was riding a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, lost control and veered into the oncoming lane, where he collided with a Haval vehicle. Preliminary data suggests that the cause of the accident may have been an incorrect choice of trajectory on a bend in the road.

      The motorcyclist sustained serious injuries and died at the scene before the ambulance arrived. After the accident, members of the biker community "Motosolidarity" on "VKontakte" speculated that the cause of the accident could have been an improper overtaking maneuver or a malfunction of the motorcycle, considering that the Triumph Bonneville has an electronic throttle.

      Mikhail Smirnov was a native of St. Petersburg and began his career in the 1990s. He graduated from the Institute of Precision Mechanics and Optics and then worked at the investment company "AVK," where he rose to the position of general director by the early 2000s. In 2002, he graduated from the Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation, and in 2003, he completed training at a marketing institute in London.

      Smirnov was the founder of nearly two dozen companies engaged in various types of business, including restaurants, food delivery, and consulting. However, his main focus was the oil industry. He was a co-owner of the company "Neva Oil" and owned a stake in the "Baltic Fuel Company." Smirnov also had a stake in "Neva Facility Management," which dealt with real estate leasing. Among other things, his name was mentioned in news related to the waste business near St. Petersburg.

      As of 2024, Mikhail Smirnov was listed among billionaires with a net worth of 7.79 billion rubles, ranking 108th. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials for ages 18+.