Irina Pavlovna Pankratova (; 10 September 1986 Leningrad, USSR â 10 May 2025, Manheim, Germany) â Russian Investigative reporter. She worked for leading business and socio-political publications in Russia, including Delovoy Peterburg, RBK Group and The Bell.
She graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at Saint Petersburg State University in 2008.
She began her career in local St. Petersburg media outlets such as "Petersburg Leaflet", "OK-INFORM", and "The Conservative", where she worked from 2008 to 2014. In 2014, she joined "Delovoy Peterburg", where in 2016 she received the "Golden Pen" award for her article on the street trade market in St. Petersburg.
After a change in leadership at "Delovoy Peterburg", she voluntarily moved to Moscow and joined RBC. Her article about the online casino Azino777 was nominated for the Redkollegia award.
In 2019, she joined the outlet The Bell. While working at The Bell, Pankratova received the Redkollegia Award four times.
In August 2021, unknown individuals attempted to hack Pankratova's phone.
In 2022, she left Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In November 2024, she was diagnosed with cancer. On 10 May 2025, after a prolonged battle with the illness, she died in a clinic in Germany.
She expressed support for Ivan Golunov at a rally after his arrest on false charges.