The war in Ukraine did not go quite as Russian President Vladimir Putin had hoped. Something must have gone wrong and the resistance of the Ukrainians played a fundamental role. Because of this, as the Moscow Times reports, something strange is happening: security officers appear and suddenly disappear. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, for example, one of the three people who hold Moscow’s nuclear codes, disappeared for 13 days: It is now known that he suffered a heart attack. But that is what Ukraine’s Deputy Interior Minister says, a statement that cannot be independently verified. And which therefore leaves room for different readings. At first there were even thoughts of punishing the unsuccessful campaign in the Ukraine. Some speculated that he was even dead. Shoigu Thursday, March 24th appeared on the screen of a video conference with the Russian President (but even this requires independent verification, since the images of the meeting would be similar to those of the Russian President, according to the same websiteMarch 11). Among the missing, adds the Moscow Times, there are also Viktor Solotov, Igor Kostyukov, Valery Gerasimov and Alexander Bortnikov.
Who are the “disappeared” officers and what doesn’t add up
Director of the Federal Troops Service of the Russian National Guard, Viktor Solotovdisappeared from the media March 13th, after admitting during a church service and in the presence of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow that the “special military operation” in Ukraine as the Russians are calling it was in fact “not proceeding at the expected speed”. L’March 11 Solotov himself had presented prizes to Russians who had distinguished themselves in the war. the 17 It became known that Zolotov would fire his deputy Roman Gavrilov, the number two in the Russian National Guard, a close friend of his by the way. Gavrilov is accused of embezzling National Guard funds intended for fighters in Ukraine. Above all, there is talk of “fuel wastage.
It also seems to have disappeared Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. the March 12th had a conversation with a Turkish colleague who 4th of March discussed the situation in Ukraine with the chief of staff of the French armed forces. Then it disappeared. There are no more messages or photos or videos of him either. the March 24th The Pentagon said Shoigu and Gerasimov would refuse to speak to them on the phone. The last contact goes back to February 18th. Igor Kostyukov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the German Armed Forces, is in poor health. Very little is known about him: only the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov He spoke about it and claimed he would have heart problems. Finally there is Alexander BortnikovHead of the Federal Security Service, appeared at Putin’s Security Council meetings11 and the March 24th. Bortnikov, on the other hand, always appears with the same clothes, the same background behind them, and always without saying a word for a few seconds. There is no further news about him.
Archive cover photo: ANSA / EPA / ALEKSEY NIKOLSKYI
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