The British Defense Ministry’s daily intelligence report on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine states that the four-year punishment given by Russia on Thursday to Igor Girkin, a former Federal Security Service officer and military blogger, is a part of a larger effort to suppress dissent against the Kremlin and its actions in Ukraine.

The British ministry stated on Friday that the recent crackdown is a reflection of the increasingly authoritarian society in Russia under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership.

According to the report, Girkin participated in combat for the separatist group in Donetsk in 2014. He also briefly served as the defense minister for the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and wrote supportive blog posts about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In 2022, Girkin expressed strong disapproval of the Russian government and its handling of the “special military operation” in Ukraine, believing that they were not effectively pursuing it.

In 2023, he was taken into custody following a short rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, one of the founders of the private military company Wagner Group. In November, Girkin announced his candidacy for the 2024 Russian presidential election.

According to the British report, following the Prigozhin mutiny, it is probable that the Kremlin became more attuned to any disapproval regarding Ukraine from extremist nationalists, as they are seen as a legitimate alternative to Putin’s rule.

Security Council meets

At the behest of Russia, the United Nations Security Council convened an urgent meeting on Thursday to discuss the crash of a Russian military plane on Wednesday near the border of Russia and Ukraine. Both parties are requesting a thorough investigation into the incident.

The United Nations’ top political representative, Rosemary DiCarlo, stated that the organization cannot confirm the details surrounding the crash.

Ukraine”

It is apparent that the occurrence occurred during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The speaker stated that Ukraine is currently engaged in a war. They also urged all parties involved to avoid taking actions, using language, or making accusations that could worsen the already perilous conflict.

The Russian government has claimed that Kyiv is responsible for the plane crash in the Belgorod region on Wednesday. According to Russia, the aircraft was carrying a total of 74 individuals, with 65 of them being Ukrainian prisoners of war who were supposed to be exchanged in a prisoner swap.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Wednesday in New York, while attending U.N. meetings, that the Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred to the Belgorod region for a previously arranged swap between Moscow and Kyiv.

The Ukrainian side fired an air defense missile from the Kharkiv region instead of this. The missile was aimed at the airplane and resulted in a fatal hit.

The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that his administration is advocating for a global inquiry in order to determine the truth.

During the Security Council meeting, a representative from Ukraine reiterated their request for a global inquiry. They stated that due to the plane’s crash in Russian territory, they were unable to access it.

“Deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn stated that after the plane crash, the Federal Security Service and Russian military did not follow protocol and prevented emergency workers from inspecting the site. Our military intelligence reports that only five bodies were taken to the morgue in Belgorod, and no human remains can be seen in videos taken at the crash site.”

Dmitry Polyanskiy, the deputy representative of Russia, rejected this statement as “paranoid nonsense.”

Some council members cautioned against making speculative and accusatory statements without first establishing critical facts.

Footage shared on social media from Wednesday’s aviation accident depicted a plane tumbling sideways through the air before erupting into a colossal inferno upon impact with the snowy terrain of Russia’s rural, western Belgorod area.

The city of Kharkiv is situated next to Belgorod, which falls within Russian territory. Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia about two years ago, the two parties have engaged in multiple exchanges of prisoners.

Nuclear concerns

The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency provided an update to the council on Thursday regarding the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Rafael Grossi informed journalists following the confidential discussion that he plans to make a return trip to Ukraine within the next 10 days, and will subsequently journey to Moscow.

The power plant located in Russian-occupied territory has experienced its eighth loss of external power. Due to its frequent exposure to conflict, there are concerns about the potential for a nuclear disaster.

When a journalist inquired about the level of danger at Zaporizhzhia on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, the head of the IAEA responded that it fluctuates.

Grossi expressed that there are some days where one may feel close to reaching a goal, and other days where progress seems stagnant. The main issue is the unpredictable nature of the situation, as it can be likened to a battle.

Margaret Besheer, VOA’s correspondent for the United Nations, contributed to this report. The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters provided some material for this report.

Source: voanews.com