Russian ballet star who reportedly criticized Putin dies after falling from building

Russian ballet dancer Vladimir Shklyarov has died at 39.

The principal dancer of theater company Mariinsky Theatre, Vladimir Shklyarov, died on Saturday, Nov. 16 after falling from the fifth floor of a building, Anna Kasatkina a representative for the theater told local Russian news outlet Fontanka.

Kasatkina also told PEOPLE in a statement that the incident occurred while the dancer was on painkillers ahead of a spinal surgery scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18.

Shklyarov was 39 at the time of his death. (Instagram / vladimir_shklyarov)

While a federal investigation has been launched to investigate Shklyarov's death, the 'preliminary cause' has been ruled as an accident per Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Shklyarov joined Mariinsky Theatre in 2003, and danced at the company for over 20 years. He became its highest-ranking performer in 2011.

In a statement, Mariinsky Theatre said: "This is a huge loss not only for the theater's staff, but for all of today's ballet art."

Shklyarov was a principal dancer. (Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)

"Our condolences to the artist's family, loved ones, friends and all the numerous admirers of his work and talent," the theater company added.

"His boundless creative abilities were recognized with numerous awards," the statement continued. "He forever inscribed his name in the history of world ballet art."

According to the New York Post, the dancer was reportedly critical of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Per the outlet, Shklyarov wrote on Facebook in 2022: "Friends! I am against the war in Ukraine! I am for the people, for a peaceful sky above our heads."

The dancer was reportedly critical of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. (Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images)

"Politicians should be able to negotiate without shooting and killing civilians, for this they were given a tongue and a head," he reportedly continued.

"My grandfather, Anatoly Filimonovich, graduated from school in Ukraine with a gold medal, my great-grandmother Sonya lived her whole life in Kyiv," he added per The Post.

"It is impossible to watch everything that is happening today without tears. I want to dance…I want to love everyone – that is the purpose of my life…I do not want wars or borders," he reportedly concluded.

Notably, Reuters reports that it was unable to verify the authenticity of said post made in his name.

Throughout his illustrious ballet career, Shklyarov starred in productions of The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Don Quixote and Romeo and Juliet.

He also performed with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Shklyarov was married to ballet dancer Maria Shirinkina. The couple shared two children.

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