A millionaire businessman who left his girlfriend with half her skull missing after a horrific attack has died from shock after learning he would be jailed or forced to fight in Ukraine. Dmitry Kuzmin, 41, a road construction mogul, attacked model Anzhelika Tartanova, 33, causing catastrophic head injuries, severe brain damage, and lasting cognitive problems.
Details of the Attack
The attack occurred on November 23 last year. Tartanova suffered shattered bones, effectively removing half of her skull, according to Starhit news. She required emergency surgery to save her life. Neurosurgeon Vyacheslav Smirnov described her case as complex and severe, noting that she had a subdural haematoma and damage to brain tissue. Without immediate surgery, she would likely have slipped into a coma within hours.
Medical Procedures
Surgeons performed a decompressive craniotomy, removing a large section of her skull to relieve pressure on her brain. Smirnov explained that her skull would later be reconstructed using a 3D-printed model, covering the defect cosmetically. Tartanova was unable to speak for months after the attack, and her recovery has been slow. She said, 'For a long time I didn't go near the mirror, I was very scared.' Her sister, Anastasia Beloglazova, expressed horror at the attack, calling it 'what kind of animal do you have to be to treat a person like that?'
Kuzmin's Death
Initially, Kuzmin hoped to avoid prison and was even allowed to visit Tartanova in hospital. However, he was later charged with attempted murder. Russian media reported that preliminary indications show Kuzmin's heart failed due to the psychological trauma of the criminal case against him. He was told he faced at least eight years in prison, with the only alternative being enlistment in Vladimir Putin's army to fight on the frontline in Ukraine.
Ongoing Consequences
Tartanova now deals with impaired speech, memory, and coordination, and faces a long recovery with further surgeries. She went on TV four months ago to reveal the horrors of her injuries. The case highlights the severe impact of domestic violence and the legal consequences for perpetrators.
