Mystery death of Ukrainian Putin critic in Portugal being probed amid fears it was a Kremlin hit

THE death of a Vladimir Putin critic is being investigated amid fears it was a Kremlin hit. Pavlo Sadokha, 56, was found dead at Quarteira, Algarve, on Sunday. Putin’s FSB assassins are known to be hunting prominent Ukrainians across Europe Credit: AP Vladimir Putin critic, Pavlo Sadokha, 56, was found dead at Quarteira, Algarve, on Sunday Credit: X/UKRinPRT The Ukrainian had a history of heart disease and, at first, police cited natural causes. But family said his health was “perfectly under control” — leading Portuguese prosecutors to investigate. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The family also want toxicology checks. In June 2025 Sadokha claimed the Kremlin was using youth games to militarise children of Russian expats in Spain. He lived in Portugal for two decades. Putin’s FSB assassins are known to be hunting prominent Ukrainians across Europe. Suspects are still at large over the 2024 gun murder of Russian defector Maxim Kuzminov near Benidorm. The 28-year-old airman, who flew his Russian Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine, was executed by six shots in a car park after starting a new life in Spain. Most read in The Sun His killers – who fled in a car later found torched – have never been found. Comment now