He photographed Putin’s armored train – and had to flee

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Mikhail Korotkov (31) loves trains. Time and time again he photographed the most extraordinary railways – until he took the first photo of an armored train in 2018. He didn’t know exactly who was in the compartments at the time. But it was clear to him: “Normal mortals don’t ride a train like that,” he wrote on his blog. Chasing the armored train became a dangerous obsession for him.

Korotkov became a train spotter, loved the challenge, the adrenaline when he went hunting, he tells the Washington Post. He never thought about the consequences. “I was so engrossed in my hobby,” he explains. For years, Korotkow followed the extraordinary move. “He races like crazy and all other planned movements give way to him,” he wrote on his blog in 2021.

This train is a state security train intended only for senior members of the government. The passenger in Korotkov’s case was none other than Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (70). At least since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Russian head of state has preferred the train to other means of transport. This is because it is less easy to track than an airplane. But Korotkov kept hot on the heels of the head of state. And risked his life.

The Russian secret service is after him

Korotkov’s investigation was a thorn in the side of the Kremlin boss. Finally, Putin is said to have even built train routes between his private properties – no one should know about them.

Despite the risks, Korotkov didn’t stop — until something unusual happened: He saw transcripts of his personal calls in the comments on YouTube. “Seeing these conversations in my comments gave me the creeps,” he said. It was clear to Korotkov that the Russian secret service was after him.

The train spotter was startled. “It was then that I realized that anything I posted on the internet could be used against me.” His blog could be his downfall.

Korotkov is summoned

He fears his Trainspotting contributions could be reason enough to put him in prison for sabotage or terrorism. So he stopped blogging in March 2022. Korotkov tried to ignore the war, but fled in September when Putin announced partial mobilization.

“The hardest part was finally realizing that emigration was the only solution, giving up my previous life and starting all over again,” says Korotkov. When his marching orders came, he was already in Kazakhstan. Until things return to normal, Korotkov wants to travel the world with his backpack. (jwg)

Source: Blick