Sakha Entrepreneurs Face Social Media Backlash Over South Africa Lion Hunt

July 8, 2026 Social media Three businesspeople from Russia’s republic of Sakha sparked a torrent of criticism on social media after posting photos and videos of a lion hunt in South Africa that critics said violated the traditional hunting values of their native region. The backlash began when Galina Yakovleva posted a video on Instagram showing her husband, Alexei Yakovlev, shooting a resting lion at close range on Sunday. “I went with my husband to see with my own eyes how he hunts. It turns out it’s hard for a woman to be there in that moment. I thought, ‘It takes guts to go after a predator.’ I’m proud of my husband!” Yakovleva said. In a separate post, fellow Sakha businessman Yuri Bolshakov said he had applied for a hunting permit a year in advance, traveled to a private hunting reserve near the Botswana border, tracked a lioness for several days and shot her in a way that would not damage the animal’s pelt. “It wasn’t a battle. It was a dialogue between two worlds, in which each remained true to itself,” he wrote. Bolshakov said the hunt took place on a private game reserve. It was not immediately clear whether the businesspeople were taking part in “canned hunting,” a controversial practice in South Africa in which hunters, typically foreign tourists, pay to kill an animal that has been bred and raised in captivity. The posts prompted a wave of criticism from residents of Sakha, where many said the hunt conflicted with the region’s longstanding hunting traditions. “For the people of Yakutia, hunting is not merely a means of obtaining meat, but a profound spiritual tradition rooted in a strict code of honor and respect for nature. Bolshakov’s actions were perceived by his fellow Yakutians as a direct affront to traditional values,” one critic wrote. “What do you mean, ‘it’s either me or her?’ You flew thousands of kilometers to her enclosure and paid a fortune just to shoot a sleeping cat point-blank. Stop acting like a hero,” another wrote. A third commenter said: “Yakutia's business elite has completely lost touch with reality. They've turned it into a contest to see who can kill a lion in the most spectacular way. It's a disgrace to the whole world.” Following the backlash, Yakovleva and Bolshakov deleted the posts and made their Instagram accounts private. Read more about: Republic of Sakha , Animals , Regions , South Africa Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Regions Calling: Siberian Farmers Abandon Livestock Standoff The Novosibirsk region has culled thousands of cows and other livestock, putting livelihoods at risk. Farmers in other regions worry they may be next. 4 Min read Russia’s Sakha Faces Heating Crisis Amid Budget Shortfalls The problems are affecting nearly all districts of the vast, sparsely populated region of the Far East. 2 Min read Feature In Russia’s Republic of Sakha, a Fatal Stray Dog Attack Underscores Country-Wide Problem Sakha is one of many regions grappling with a stray dog crisis that endangers the people who live near them — but an effective solution appears far-off... 4 Min read Flooding Emergency Declared in Far East Russia’s Sakha Nearly 450 homes and more than 550 land plots have been flooded since the Lena River started overflowing last week. 1 Min read