File on the Ukraine-Russia WarVladislav Rjitskiï was accused by Ukraine of killing 28 civilians in a bombing raid a year ago and was shot dead in Krasnodar, southern Russia, on Monday, July 10. The Strava running app where he entered his route would have made it possible to locate him.
Are the Ukrainian authorities today so calm and bold as to launch targeted attacks in Russia in parallel with their territorial reconquest? On Monday, July 10, Vladislav Rjitskiï was shot dead very early in the morning in a park in Krasnodar, southern Russia, while he was jogging in the morning. As a former submarine commander, he was accused by Kiev of being involved in the July 2022 bombing of civilians in Vinnytsia. A 42-year-old man was arrested by the Russian authorities.
A Russian captain Stanislav Rzhytsky was shot dead in Krasnodar, Russia, reports Russian news agency SHOT
He was the commander of the Krasnodar submarine, from which the Russians fired Kalibr cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities.
📷SHOT pic.twitter.com/g9jNdnsC7v— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 10, 2023
For the Financial Times (FT), this killing could be “the latest in a series of covert operations by Ukraine” in Russia. Reason for this suspicion? The lengthy press release issued by the Ukrainian intelligence services without further explanation after the death of Vladislav Rjitskiï. They describe in detail the spot where he was shot – an “empty park due to heavy rain, meaning there are no witnesses to provide details or identify the assailant”; profile of the former commander – Rjitsky is said to have since carried out rocket attacks on the city of Vinnytsia in central Ukraine almost a year ago, killing at least 28 civilians. Ukrainian services accuse Russia of shooting him down because he refused to take part in new attacks. Not enough to ward off suspicion.
Betrayed by his running app?
Another reason that brings Ukraine closer to this execution: updating the website Myrotvorets, which according to FT is very close to the Ukrainian government. This website, which lists thousands of people accused of crimes against Ukraine, now has the face of Vladislav Rjitsky in big red letters and the words “Liquid.” Finally, some snoopers have peeled the Strava profile of the deceased, an application that allows you to record your running and cycling routes in particular. Among those who liked Rzhitsky’s latest bike ride to Krasnodar, posted on Saturday, is a profile named Kyrylo Budanov, none other than the director of Ukraine’s military intelligence.
According to the Baza media, which is close to the Russian armed forces, he was also found and shot thanks to Strava, on which we could see that Vladislav Rjitskiï always followed the same route. The Russian media also undermine the profile created by Kiev: Yes, the Quadra had indeed commanded the Krasnodar submarine, which Ukraine blamed for the attacks on Vinnytsia. However, according to them, he was now working as deputy head of the city’s military mobilization department and had not taken part in the bombing. His father, quoted by Baza, assures that the former sailor resigned from the Navy before Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.