Talk of mass hangings by Russian leaders may not be far from the truth.
Knewz.com has learned that President Vladimir Putin has ordered a crackdown on what he calls “traitorous… scum” — Russian rebels who are fighting for Ukraine.
Putin reportedly ranted at leaders of the Russian FSB Secret Service on Tuesday, March 19 because of recent gains by Ukrainian fighters.
The president condemned “all attempts to break through our territory [by] subversion-terrorist gangs, consisting of regular units of the enemy, foreign mercenaries… and all kinds of scum who found themselves in the territory of the Kyiv.”
The “scum” apparently was a reference to Russians who have become part of Ukrainian guerrilla units.
“We will punish them without a statute of limitations, wherever they are,” The Sun tabloid quoted Putin as saying. He encouraged the FSB leaders to reveal the turncoats by name.
The Ukrainian version of Pravda added that Putin praised the FSB for “ensuring Russia’s security and sovereignty.”
The Kyiv Independent reported Putin again compared Russians fighting for Ukraine to the World War II “Vlasov Army,” which Knewz.com noted was referenced in Putin’s presidential victory speech on March 17.
It may seem puzzling that Putin began his post-election “victory lap” with a speech to Secret Service leaders in Moscow, especially since Knewz.com has reported he won with ease.
The Institute for the Study of War, based in Washington, explains it probably was a statement to voters that Putin is backed by the power of Russian security personnel.
“Putin, a former KGB officer himself, may be highlighting the FSB as an organization that has his current favor,” a report from the ISW said.
But it added at times, Putin seems to turn security agencies against each other to show he’s really in charge.
Two towns in eastern Ukraine reportedly have fallen in recent days to three groups joining in an “Operation Freedom” campaign which Knewz.com has been tracking.
The Russian Freedom Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps and Siberian Battalion claimed Gorkovskii and Kozinka within two days. Leaders said it was timed to disrupt Russia’s presidential election.
An attack on Belgorod has led to the evacuation of 9,000 children and damaged at least one Russian tank.
One leader of the factions is a former Russian parliament member. Ilya Ponomarev calls it a “large-scale” attack.
“We are attacking several directions simultaneously and our fighters are experienced, trained,” Ponomarev said.
“We have 16 civilians killed and 98 wounded during the past week, including a girl who has just lost her arm during shelling,” Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov admitted.
Three other nearby towns also reportedly are under assault: Glotovo, Gora-Podol and Gruzskoye.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Ukraine fired nine missiles toward Belgorod, but all were destroyed in the sky.
Ukraine’s military denies it’s behind the attack. It calls the factions “independent organizations.”
In contrast, the ISW reports Russian forces made a new advance toward the town of Avdiivka.
The post Putin Orders Spies to Hunt Down ‘Scum’ Russians Rebels Fighting for Ukraine: ‘We Will Punish Them’ appeared first on Knewz.
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Author: Richard Burkard
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