[dannylandau]

As an active mushroom hunter (born in Russia), can confirm that this is extremely unlikely and uncommon. People who have done this since birth know how distinguish between mushrooms, and usually stick to the variety that they love the best. In Russia, the mushroom of choice is the "White Mushroom" (or Porcini, King Bolete) or Rejik (Milky cap) and Chanterreles, and a few others, and that's it, with the top 2 being the most sought after.

I've been doing this for over 35 years, and always go after the same mushrooms, and have never been poisoned. So, very unlikely someone much older would make a mistake, sounds like foul play.

[sschueller]

This article[1] from 20 years a ago paints a different picture.

> Russians Dying--Literally--for Favorite Fungi

> Like most Russians, Sergei Kayava and his family considered themselves mushroom experts--but the assumption proved fatal.

> On July 8, he and his family eagerly dished up helpings of buttery fried forest mushrooms prepared by his mother-in-law.

> “She is very good at cooking mushrooms. She boiled them and then fried them and then served them with boiled potatoes. It was delicious,” Kayava recalled Saturday.

> But the dish killed Kayava’s wife, Marina, 40, and her father. Collecting mushrooms earlier that day, Kayava’s in-laws mistook the deadly blednaya poganka, or pale toadstool, for the innocuous and tasty syroyezhki mushroom.

...

> The mushroom season has just begun and lasts until late September, but already at least 95 people have died in Russia and Ukraine, a casualty figure much higher than normal for this time of year.

So although this seem unlikely that the top Russian rocket scientist died from mushroom poisoning it isn't out of the question or that ridiculous.

[1] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-16-mn-53777...

[AnonCoward42]

Amanita Phalloides is the only one I know of you can easily die from (others are possible, but harder to overdose or need some other preconditions), but it is also one that you can easily mistake for some Agarici (Agaricūs?).

I know of a case where someone ate conserved ones (thought it's Agaricus) way after they were collected and actually survived, but only barely with a liver transplant if I remember correctly. Because the reaction is hours delayed it's also not easy to find out the cause for your bad state.

edit: I think it was the liver not kidney.

[404mm]

> How did the he die?

> From mushroom poisoning

> But… there’s a bullet hole in his head..

> He refused to eat the mushrooms

(Joke from 1980’s, Eastern Europe)

[hackyhacky]

Sounds more like lead poisoning.

[tester756]

On the other hand - routine kills

[chinathrow]

On the other hand - Putin kills too.

[sebazzz]

Foul play usually means in people falling out of windows in Russia, no?