I don't think that re-entry is the bugaboo that many people make it out to be. Of course if you've got a dense re-entry vehicle, wings with sharp leading edges, and an aerodynamically unstable shape -- then yes, it's pretty difficult. But no aerospace designer in their right mind would do that.*

By the way -- although the Soviet deaths occured during the terminal phase of the missions, I don't think it's correct to classify them as "re-entry" problems. Soyuz 1 had tangled parachute lines, and Soyuz 11 blew a cabin depressurization valve.

Cheers,

Nathan.

* NASA is another matter, naturally