A Russian ballet dancer who spoke out against Putin's Ukraine invasion has fallen to his death in St Petersburg.

Vladimir Shklyarov, who declared: "I am against the war in Ukraine," as Russian tanks rolled across the border into their next-door neighbour two years ago, fatally fell from a fifth-floor flat on Saturday - prompting tributes from across the world of ballet.

Shklyarov had become the principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 2011. A spokeswoman for the venue called his death a "huge loss".

Anna Kasatkina said: "Our condolences to the artist's family, loved ones, friends and all the numerous admirers of his work and talent... he forever inscribed his name in the history of world ballet."

Shklyarov declared 'I am against the war in Ukraine' as Russian tanks rolled across the border into their next-door neighbour two years ago

He had starred at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in London.

Shklyarov was reportedly leaping between two balconies when he fell to his death - though fellow ballerina Irina Bartnovskaya said he "went out to smoke on a very narrow balcony and fell five storeys in a stupid, unbearable accident".

Back in 2022, he had declared: "Friends! I am against the war in Ukraine!

"I am for the people, for a peaceful sky above our heads.

Shklyarov had become the principal dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in 2011

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

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

"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...

A raft of Putin critics have suffered unexplained early deaths

"I do not want wars or borders."

It remains unclear whether his outspoken stance on Putin's war could be related to his demise - though a raft of Putin critics have suffered unexplained early deaths, including mysterious falls from windows.

Russian media says a federal investigation has been launched into the dancer's death - but the "preliminary cause" has been ruled an accident.