Kirov journalist and hero of the legendary Russia meme died in the SMO zone

A well-known Kirov journalist, former head of the press service of the traffic police of the Kirov region, former editor-in-chief of the Vyatka Krai newspaper Andrei Tajibaev died in the zone of a special military operation. This was reported by the press service of the Union of Journalists of the Kirov region in the telegram channel.

"The farewell to Andrei Abdukayumovich Tadjibaev will take place on 12.02.26," the message says.

The burial will take place on February 16 after the cremation.

According to the Kirov portal Newsler.ru . Tadjibaev left for SMO volunteered in May last year, signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. Since October 2025, Tajibayev has been considered missing. At the same time, former colleagues of the journalist noted that he stopped contacting after three to four weeks at the front.

"Roughly speaking, there has been no news from him since June," one of his former colleagues told the publication.

In August last year, Tadjibayev turned 57 years old.

According to the portal kirov.online, Tajibaev is the hero of the legendary meme, which has appeared in the videos of many popular Russian bloggers since 2011, and the phrase "either you forgot or you didn't know" has become a catch phrase.

Then Tadjibayev gave an interview to a local TV channel as the head of the press service of the traffic police department. During a conversation with a journalist, a colleague called him, whom Tadjibaev eloquently reprimanded.

"You know I have television here, don't you? Or have you forgotten? Or didn't you know?", — he addressed rhetorical questions to the caller.

Having heard the answer "I thought everything was already," Tadjibayev recalled that he had already told his subordinate: "It's too early for you to think." Then he calmly continued the interview.

As reported by EADaily, a week earlier it became known that theater and film actor Nikolai Tkachenko, known for his work in numerous Russian TV series, died in the SMO zone.