Mikhail Krug — Legendary Shanson Singer and a Life Cut Short

Early Years and Musical Beginnings

Mikhail Krug began playing music in early childhood — he learned the guitar at the age of six. He was deeply inspired by the work of Vladimir Vysotsky, whose songs had a strong influence on him. In his youth, Krug imitated Vysotsky’s style, which was reflected in his early performances — socially focused lyrics, a rough voice, and dramatic delivery.

The Rise of Zhigan-Limon

His path to true fame began in 1994 with the release of the album Zhigan-Limon. Many fans consider it one of the most notable records of the criminal 1990s. Interestingly, before that point, Krug had already recorded three albums, but they were never officially released. Most of the songs from those early recordings later appeared in his following albums.

Vladimirsky Central and Its Origins

Krug’s biggest success came with the track Vladimirsky Central from his 1998 album Madam, which brought him nationwide recognition. According to one version, the song was dedicated to a criminal authority from Tver named Sasha Severny, whom Krug personally knew. Some say that Sasha himself wrote the lyrics after Krug visited him in prison in 1995. Another version claims that Krug wrote the song himself, inspired by his friend, but at the request of Sasha Severny did not mention his name. Allegedly, the original line was “Vladimirsky Central, Sasha Severny,” but was later changed to the more neutral “northern wind.”

In any case, the true story behind the hit remains unknown. But it was this track that became a symbol of an era, forever inscribing Mikhail Krug’s name into both musical and criminal cultural history in Russia.

The Murder of Mikhail Krug

Mikhail Krug’s death shocked the country. During the night of June 30 to July 1, 2002, two burglars broke into his house in Tver. Inside were Krug, his wife, his mother-in-law, and children. The intruders encountered his mother-in-law, who resisted them, and one of the burglars used force against her. Hearing the noise, Krug came out, and one of the men shot him twice — in the stomach and chest. In the chaos, Krug’s dog was also killed. His wife and family hid at a neighbor’s house and called an ambulance, which refused to come without police presence. A neighbor had to drive Krug to the hospital himself, but despite the effort, the singer died from his injuries. By the time the ambulance finally arrived with police, Krug was already in the hospital.

The Case Reopened in 2019

For years, the investigation saw no progress. Only in 2019 did an anonymous tip lead to a breakthrough. It was revealed that the assailants were Alexander Ageyev — already serving a life sentence for contract killings — and Dmitry Veselov, who had been killed in 2003.

According to investigators, the robbery had been ordered by a criminal boss known as “Lom.” He expected Krug and his family to be away from home that night and planned to steal valuables. The plan was that Krug would later come to “Lom” for help recovering his stolen belongings — allowing “Lom” to quickly return them and win Krug’s trust, gaining influence over him and, potentially, financial leverage. But the plan went wrong when Krug turned out to be at home, and the robbery ended in murder.

Revenge Within the Same Gang

The final dramatic detail came with Veselov’s death less than a year later. He was identified as the one who shot Mikhail Krug. In 2003, Veselov was killed in a forest by Alexander Osipov — a man who knew Krug personally and was reportedly a devoted fan. Osipov is believed to have murdered Veselov as revenge for Krug’s death. Interestingly, all three men — Veselov, Ageyev, and Osipov — were part of the same gang: the “Tver Wolves.”