Dmitry Oganyan, the bass guitarist for Russian rock band Kukryniksy, died from drowning in a Saint Petersburg pond, local news outlets reported on Wednesday.
The Telegram news channel Baza reported that the official cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation after the musician drowned in a body of water.
Oganyan, who was also known by the nickname Vagon, was found dead in the water on Vasilyevsky Island in Saint Petersburg on August 20. When searchers located his body, he was dressed only in a T-shirt and underwear.
On the nearby shore, investigators found Oganyan's severed left hand alongside an axe. Reports indicated that he may have severed his hand himself before committing suicide, and law enforcement officials found no evidence indicating a criminal nature to his death.
Musician struggled with health issues before death
On the eve of the incident, Oganyan was reportedly in a depressed state. At around 3:00 a.m., he left his home and walked toward the pond where his body was later discovered.
It was known that Oganyan had been suffering from medical problems affecting his fingers. Prior to his death, a doctor had publicly spoken about the illness impacting the musician's hands.
Prominent figure in Russian rock music
Oganyan gained national recognition as the longtime bass guitarist for Kukryniksy, a popular Russian rock group formed in Saint Petersburg in 1997. The band was founded by frontman Alexey Gorshenev and released multiple hit albums during the 2000s, performing at major music festivals across Russia before disbanding in 2018.
Bass playing requires significant finger strength and coordination, making chronic hand or finger ailments particularly challenging for performing instrumentalists.
Vasilyevsky Island, where the discovery was made, is the largest island in Saint Petersburg, bounded by the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland. The historic urban district features several residential quarters, parklands, and artificial ponds.
