World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Former Vesti presenter Mikhail Ponomarev died of a heart attack
Russian journalist Mikhail Ponomarev died at 57 on October 19, according to an announcement by the National Association of Broadcasters.
His daughter said a heart attack caused his death.
Ponomarev presented Vesti on Russian television channel RTR from 1991 to 1999.
He later presented a news programme on TV-6, leaving the channel in 2001.
He was among Vesti’s early presenters, making a report for the programme’s first broadcast and covering events including the 1993 Moscow unrest.
His departure from Vesti was disputed: Ponomarev accused channel managers of incompetence and trying to impose political censorship, while the company’s chairman denied censorship.
No further details about what happens next were given.
Russian journalist and television presenter Mikhail Ponomarev died on October 19, 2026, at 57, in the 58th year of his life.
His daughter said he died of a heart attack, according to a report citing TASS.
The National Association of Broadcasters announced his death.
Ponomarev presented Vesti on RTR from 1991 to 1999 and later presented a news program on TV-6 through 2001.
- Who
- Mikhail Ponomarev, a Russian journalist and television presenter.
- What
- He died of a heart attack, according to his daughter.
- When
- October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- His daughter said the cause was a heart attack.
Mikhail Ponomarev
VGTRK holding chairman
Censorship
Mikhail Ponomarev
Ponomarev accused VGTRK’s leadership of incompetence and attempts to introduce political censorship.
VGTRK holding chairman
The chairman said Ponomarev was removed because of personal qualities and that there was no political censorship on the channel.
Ponomarev presented Vesti on RTR.
Ponomarev covered unrest in Moscow.
He presented a news program on TV-6.
The National Association of Broadcasters announced Ponomarev’s death.
- Age
- 58th year of life
- Cause of death
- Heart attack, according to his daughter
- Vesti on RTR
- Presenter from 1991 to 1999
- TV-6
- Presented a news program through 2001
- Death announced
- October 19, 2026
5 sources
What people are saying
The cause of my dad’s death was a heart attack
Mikhail Ponomarev, Russian journalist and presenter of Vesti on RTR and News on TV-6, has died