After Kinshah’s bankruptcy, Putin imprisons his rocket researchers

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Ukraine succeeded in destroying several Kinshah missiles last week. The “dagger” – that’s what the word “kinschal” means in German – is considered indestructible. “The apparent vulnerability of the Kinzhal is likely to come as both a surprise and an embarrassment to Russia,” Britain’s Defense Ministry tweeted on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin (70) has already found a few scapegoats: the scientists.

Anatoly Maslov, Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Swegintsev are currently charged with high treason by Russian authorities. Sweginzew was arrested last week and Maslow has been in jail since June 2022. All three participated in the development of the infamous Kinschal missiles, writes the “Frankfurter Rundschau”.

At the Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk, Siberia, the men researched and developed hypersonic missiles. A task that seems more important than ever in times of war. Now they are accused of betraying state secrets in international forums. But why is Putin imprisoning the country’s brightest minds?

“We know them as patriots!”

Colleagues at the institute are not understanding this. “They are all known for their brilliant scientific achievements,” says an open letter from the institute on May 15 about the employees. This is the only way it became known that Swegintsev has been in custody since last week.

“We know each and every one of them as patriots and decent people who are incapable of committing what the investigating authorities accuse them of,” the staff continued.

Scientists were abroad

In fact, all three scientists were temporarily abroad and appeared on international forums. But they got permission from the top for their travels. The materials that the scientists presented to the public were carefully researched beforehand to ensure that they did not contain confidential information, the broadcaster writes. BBC Russia.

After their return, the Russian secret service (FSB) accused them of high treason. Why exactly is unclear. Such matters are dealt with behind closed doors.

“Any article or report can lead to charges of treason,” the scientists continue. They are afraid – anyone could be next to know too much in the eyes of the government. “In this situation, we fear not only for the fate of our colleagues. We simply do not know how to continue with our work.”

Easy target for the Secret Service

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (55) also issued a statement shortly after publication. Although he was aware of the letter, the matter was a matter for the security authorities. However, Peskow spoke of “very serious allegations” against the imprisoned investigators.

Russian science journalist Elia Kabanow explains to “Bild”: “All of you have given lectures abroad or published articles in foreign newspapers.” The researchers thus offer the Russian secret service FSB an easy target. “You can easily accuse them of betraying secrets.” How the scientists will proceed remains unclear. But without them, Putin’s nuclear threats remain empty words.

Source: Blick