Ruslan Zakharov has died at the age of 23 ©Getty Images

Russian speed skater Ruslan Zakharov, a Junior World Cup winner and Junior World Championships bronze medallist, has died aged just 23 after an accident involving a truck in Khabarovsk.

As reported by the Russian state news agency TASS, the Russian Skating Union confirmed Zakharov's death yesterday.

"As a result of the tragic incident, the medallist of the Junior World Championships, the winner of the Junior World Cup in speed skating, multiple winner of the Russian Championship Ruslan Zakharov passed away," a statement read.

"He was 23 years old."

The police's traffic department in Khabarovsk today said the incident took place at 6:10am local time on the city's Karl Marx Street.


"The driver, while driving a Toyota Dyna, made a collision with a pedestrian who was moving in the same direction on the carriageway in the presence of sidewalk," it said.

Zakharov was taken to hospital with a serious head injury and died in intensive care after losing consciousness.

He twice earned a bronze medal at the International Skating Union (ISU) Junior World Championships, and won the men's 500 metres Junior Grand World Cup title in 2017-2018.

Zakharov is not to be confused with the 34-year-old speed skater of the same name, who contributed to a men's 5,000m relay gold at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.