What happened in the Russian city of Bryansk on Thursday morning? According to Kremlin propaganda, Ukrainian “saboteurs” entered Russian territory to spread fear and terror. After numerous inconsistencies and contradictory information, the following account has now been agreed: “Nationalists” had distributed mines in two villages near the Ukrainian border, fired on civilian cars, killed two men and injured a boy.
On Friday, Russia’s domestic intelligence agency FSB presented alleged evidence of the “Saboteurs” operation: the two cars that are said to have been shot at. But many details that can be seen on the corresponding recordings do not match the representation of what is happening and raise many questions.
The first car is a blue Zhiguli, which appears to have been shot at from all sides. “The car was very talentedly targeted from different points of view,” summarized automotive expert Sergei Aslanyan in an interview with Alexei Navalny’s team. “There are bullet holes everywhere: in the front, in the back, on the sides, in the windows. The license plate has been ripped off. So it’s impossible to tell what kind of car it is. If there are any survivors in this village, I’d like them ask: “Do you even know who owns the car? Have you seen it before?” he remarked sarcastically.
“I’m wondering if anyone lives in this village anyway. And if so, why these people haven’t shown up yet – except for the ten-year-old boy, who is of course a hero,” Aslanjan added mockingly.
We’re talking about the “Young Fjodr”, as propaganda immediately dubbed him and elevated him to the status of a hero. He is said to have been injured in the blue Shuguli. And despite his injury, rescued two younger girls who are said to have been in the car with him. However, the driver of the car is said to have been killed.
A collapsed body can be seen on the FSB recordings. Whether it is a dead person or a dummy cannot be determined. Aslanjan does not rule out the possibility that a dead person was obtained from a morgue or that someone was actually killed. “Russia shows no mercy in this sense. If someone has to be killed for the sake of credibility, then they will be killed.”
A body can also be seen at the wheel in the second car, which is supposed to serve as evidence. However, no further details can be found. The red Lada Niwa has no bullet holes.
But what is striking about both cars is their cleanliness. “Have they been washed beforehand? Or is everything so dry in spring, at the time of the Rasputiza, that the condition is immaculate?” the expert wonders. In Russia, Rasputitsa is the time in spring and autumn when the streets turn to mud due to snowmelt or autumn rains.
However, the two cars on display look like they just rolled out of the car wash. There’s not even dirt on the wheels or the hubcaps – although the streets are covered in mud.
“A very unsuccessful job. The degradation of Russia’s state institutes extends in all directions,” is Aslanyan’s verdict. “Not even a three”, he would give for this work.
The appearance of the men who claimed responsibility for the operation also raises many questions. No sooner had Vladimir Putin blamed “terrorists” for the alleged acts of sabotage last Thursday than the so-called “Russian Volunteer Corps” took responsibility for what happened. A video shows two heavily armed men in front of the entrance to the medical station in the village of Liubechane.
The men can be seen in uniform and camouflage clothing. They wear yellow bandages on their arms. “It is essential for a saboteur to identify himself,” laughs Aslanjan, formulating the concerns that many experts have already expressed. “You absolutely have to identify yourself with a yellow ribbon. So that everyone knows that you are a Ukrainian saboteur.”
“Clean shoes, clean suits, and machine guns for which NATO ammunition is not intended,” Aslanjan points out another interesting detail. Since Thursday, Kremlin propaganda has been emphasizing that “Young Fedr” was wounded with a NATO bullet. However, the men of the so-called “Russian Volunteer Corps” carry Kalashnikovs, which rarely fire NATO ammunition. “Clowns in perfectly white suits,” was Aslanjan’s verdict.
