Man who attacked Murmansk governor with knife reported killed in Ukraine
Less than two years after stabbing and injuring Governor Andrei Chibis, 44-year-old Aleksandr Bydanov has reportedly been killed in occupied territory in Ukraine.
Few details are known about the circumstances of Bydanov’s death. He is reported to have been killed on January 4, 2026. His funeral took place in Apatity, his hometown, on February 17, according to a post on his social media page.
"04.01.2026 in battle during the special military operation our dear son, brother, nephew was killed," the post reads.
Bydanov’s name became widely known on the Kola Peninsula after he attacked Governor Chibis in April 2024.
The governor was leaving a public assembly hall in Apatity when Bydanov attacked him with a knife. Chibis was stabbed in the stomach and quickly taken to the local hospital. The injury was not life-threatening, and Chibis recovered and returned to his duties a few weeks later.
When detained by law enforcement officers at the scene, Bydanov was shot in the leg. He was later sentenced to 13 years in prison.
When asked by journalists shortly after the attack, Bydanov confirmed that he had attended the governor's public meeting with a knife and that the attack was planned.
Like thousands of other inmates in Russian prisons, Bydanov was likely offered a pardon in exchange for signing up to fight in the war. It is unclear when he was deployed to the front line.
