Ukraine says it faked death of anti-Kremlin Russian fighter Kapustin
Kyiv says it did so to protect the Russian Volunteer Corps leader, after his assassination was ordered by Moscow’s special forces
Ukraine staged the death of an anti-Kremlin Russian fighter to prevent his killing ordered by Moscow’s special forces, Ukrainian military intelligence announced on Thursday.
Denis Kapustin, leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps that had carried out cross-border raids into Russia during Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, was killed on the front line, his group declared on Saturday.
But on Thursday Kapustin – also known as Denis Nikitin – appeared via video link at a briefing with the head of Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, who congratulated him on his “return to life”.
His assassination, GUR said in a statement, “was ordered by the special services of the aggressor state Russia, which allocated half a million dollars to carry out the crime”.
“As a result of a comprehensive special operation” his life “was preserved, and the circle of individuals was identified: the masterminds within the Russian special services and the perpetrators”.
Kapustin “reported his readiness to continue carrying out combat and special tasks as the head of the unit”, according to the statement.