Russian war journalist Alexander Rybin, 39, has been discovered dead, just days after pledging to expose significant corruption in the Putin-invaded Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Rybin’s lifeless body was found by the roadside near Shakhty in Russia’s Rostov region on Saturday, January 6.

The journalist had recently visited Mariupol, occupied by Vladimir Putin’s forces, where his on-air report criticized the Putin regime for the sluggish reconstruction of the war-ravaged city, viewed by the dictator as a holiday destination for Russians on the Azov Sea.

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In his report, Rybin highlighted an influx of immigrants involved in the city’s reconstruction and the substantial funds pouring in from Russia.

He strongly condemned what he described as ‘gigantic corruption’ and had promised to disclose further details in a live broadcast on the left-wing online platform Rabkor upon his return to Moscow. He never made it back to the capital.

Mail Online reports that Rybin’s lifeless body was discovered on a highway near the city of Shakhty, approximately 20 miles from the Ukrainian border and 130 miles from Mariupol.

Mariupol fell entirely under Moscow’s control on May 20, 2022, when the last Ukrainian troops, stationed at the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, surrendered to the invading army.

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The circumstances surrounding Rybin’s untimely demise are under investigation, raising concerns about potential repercussions for journalists reporting on sensitive matters.