More chaos in the Kremlin. A day after Putin replaced Army chief Gerasimov and w/ FSB head Portnikov to oversee the defense of Kursk, lawmakers in the Kremlin say Putin has removed Portnikov and appointed Alexei Dyumin, his former bodyguard in the Russian equivalent of the Secret Service. What is this guy going to do with a military op?? Sure, he could lead the stealth seizure of Crimea against no opposition, but against a battle hardened offensive?
Quote:
President Vladimir Putin appointed his aide and former bodyguard Alexei Dyumin to oversee Russia’s military response to the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, a federal lawmaker said Tuesday, an apparent confirmation of rumors circulated earlier by Russian military bloggers.
“Indeed, Alexei Gennadyevich Dyumin was summoned yesterday and tasked with supervising the counterterrorist operation,” State Duma lawmaker Nikolai Ivanov, whose district is in the Kursk region, told the RTVI broadcaster.
Dyumin was the only non-cabinet member not connected with the military or security services who was present at a televised meeting with Putin on Monday. During that meeting, which was focused on the fighting in the Kursk region, the Kremlin leader ordered the military to “dislodge” Ukraine’s forces from Russian territory.
Later, an anonymous Telegram channel claiming insider knowledge claimed that Putin directed Dyumin to “coordinate all agencies currently operating in the Kursk region.”
Moscow launched counterterrorism operations in the border regions of Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod on Friday, granting the military sweeping emergency powers.
The pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Politsatirka noted that Dyumin’s military experience, “especially since the annexation of Crimea,” could be crucial in coordinating defense efforts.
Rybar, a prominent pro-war channel run by a former Defense Ministry spokesman, interpreted Dyumin’s alleged appointment as a sign of Putin’s dissatisfaction with military and security leaders
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https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/...er-says-a86008
Ukraine is now allowed to hire NATO former F-16 pilots apparently.
https://twitter.com/user/status/1823076922592485443