Attacks shake Russian military leadership amidst rising tensions
In recent days, there has been a series of attacks on Russian military personnel and engineers. Among the injured was the commander of the Russian penal colony in Olenivka. Near Moscow, the body of a rocket designer was found, and in the capital itself, a bomb in a scooter killed Gen. Igor Kirillov. "This is an action aimed at weakening the morale of Russian commanders and showing them that they are not immune," said Gen. Roman Polko in an interview with WP.
9 December 2024. In Russian-occupied Donetsk, a former head of the penal colony in Olenivka, Sergey Yevsyukov, was killed due to the explosion of a Toyota Land Cruiser on Universitetskaya Street in Donetsk.
In 2022, dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war died in that prison.
The Russian Investigative Committee announced that one person was detained, who allegedly admitted during interrogation that they "acted on the orders of Ukrainian special services." According to investigators, they were promised £8,000 for blowing up the car.
10 December 2024. In Kotelnikovo near Moscow, the deputy chief designer of the "Mars" bureau, Mikhail Shatsky, who was involved in the modernisation of Russian cruise missiles and drones, was shot. "The Ukrainian intelligence (HUR) is responsible for the assassination," reports Hromadske.
"Every person who, in any way, is involved in the development of the Russian military-industrial complex and thus supports Russian aggression against Ukraine, is a legitimate target," said a Ukrainian news service source.
Series of attacks. Commanders and generals targeted
17 December 2024. As a result of an explosion on Tuesday morning in Moscow, the commander of the Russian radiochemical and biological protection forces, Gen. Igor Kirillov, and his assistant were killed. The explosive device was hidden in an electric scooter. The incident occurred just six kilometres from the Kremlin.
CNN and Reuters report that the Ukrainian Security Service masterminded the attack.
"Such an inglorious end awaits all those who kill Ukrainians. Punishment for war crimes is inevitable," a CNN source said.
Interestingly, a day before the attack, the SBU accused the Russian general of the mass use of banned chemical weapons against the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
Polko on the series of attacks: Ukraine must be very cautious
"There is a lot of internal conflict within Russia itself, but it's difficult to imagine Ukraine not conducting special or sabotage operations. Just like during World War II, the 'Parasol' unit (Home Army battalion, which was the special tasks division of the AK Main Command Diversion) eliminated occupiers, Ukraine surely wants to eliminate these criminals and bandits," said Gen. Roman Polko in an interview with Wirtualna Polska.
The former GROM commander notes, however, that it is standard for special forces not to admit to such actions, leaving a "large degree of uncertainty."
"One must always remember that besides the Russian mafias fighting each other and these Ukrainian special service actions, there is an information war. Hence a large scepticism towards all these reports about authorship, who conducted these actions, and who carried it out. Ukraine must also be very careful so that such actions do not result in it being accused of violating international law or even engaging in terrorist activities, because distinguishing from the Russian barbarians is crucial," adds Gen. Polko.
Medvedev threatens and accuses Kyiv
On Tuesday afternoon, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation's Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, at a meeting dedicated to government contracts in the defence industry, said that "everything must be done to destroy those who ordered the murder of Gen. Kirillov, that is, the military-political leaders of Ukraine."
The propagandist stated that "Kyiv itself admitted to involvement in the murder."
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Moscow has demanded the removal of President Volodymyr Zelensky from office. The Kremlin has repeatedly claimed that Zelensky is allegedly not a legal president and is controlled by "Western partners."
On Monday, Vladimir Putin himself stated that a change in power in Ukraine is a prerequisite for negotiations with Russia.
Polko: Putin demands Ukraine's capitulation
Gen. Polko reminds that Moscow and Putin demand Ukraine's capitulation, not a ceasefire. "I think the president-elect Donald Trump also recognises that there is no sign from the Russian side bringing a peace agreement closer. Ukraine would have to disarm, hand over territories to Russia, and overthrow its own government. Russia uses every action to conduct its information and propaganda war," says the expert.
The former major general of the Polish Army comments on the series of attacks, emphasising that they are primarily aimed at lowering morale.
"The Russian commanders themselves and showing them that they are not untouchable, because if it is possible to eliminate them on Russian territory, imagine if Russia managed to occupy Ukraine. Even one day would not pass peacefully under such occupation. The Ukrainian society is capable of responding much more strongly than the Taliban in Afghanistan; through guerrilla warfare, sabotage, or sabotage actions, to liberate Ukraine from the occupiers. Occupying Ukraine would not be easy."
