Russia is barring officials from resigning by threatening them with “trumped-up criminal charges” over fears their departure could plunge the Kremlin into chaos, the British defense ministry claimed today.
Senior officials have become “highly skeptical” about Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers and destroyed military vehicles, the Defense Ministry said in its latest daily intelligence briefing.
But any idea that the officials might resign is being thwarted by the Kremlin to avoid “any impression of defeatism.”
Senior employees seeking to resign because of the war are likely to face “trumped-up criminal charges,” the Defense Department said.
“The Russian state is likely to prohibit senior officials from resigning as long as the ‘Special Military Operation’ continues,” the ministry said.
Russia is barring officials from resigning by threatening them with “trumped-up criminal charges” over fears their departure could plunge the Kremlin into chaos, the British defense ministry claimed today.
A Ukrainian multiple rocket launcher fires at Russian positions on the frontline near Bakhmut, in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, yesterday.
“The measures are likely to extend to at least regional leaders, security officials and members of the powerful presidential administration.”
It added: ‘Privately, many officials are likely to be highly skeptical of the war, often experiencing job stress within the dysfunctional war apparatus. The ban is likely to be enforced with strong indications that resigners will face trumped-up criminal charges.
“The authorities are not only concerned about capacity shortages that layoffs would leave behind, but are probably also trying to avoid any appearance of defeatism and to reinforce a sense of collective responsibility for the war.”
The ban was imposed after a number of top officials said they wanted to resign after the start of the war, four sources – including a former FSB officer and a political strategist working with a governor – told the Russian Independent News Center Important stories.
“I am aware of at least two cases where governors tried to leave their posts, but in the internal policy department of the presidential administration they were not only banned, it was also hinted that they could face criminal charges,” the former said. FSB. officer said.
“There are many who want to leave after the outbreak of war. If everyone leaves, control is lost,” said another source with an acquaintance within the presidential administration.
The source added that if anyone expressed a desire to leave the presidential administration, it would be considered “treason” and officials have a duty to show unity by preventing a mass exodus of officials.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted the report was false, describing it as an unfounded rumour.
Under the mobilization decree signed by Vladimir Putin last September, several FSB officers complained that they were forbidden to resign even after their contracts expired.
And the Kremlin has also placed strict restrictions on senior officials traveling abroad, fearing they might leave Russia amid heavy casualties in the war.
“No one is allowed to go anywhere without special permission,” a senior government official told the Moscow Times. The source added that some officials’ passports have been seized and a list of where staff have traveled has been drawn up.
Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut on Monday, where fierce fighting is taking place against Russian troops
“Despite the ongoing conflict, Putin sometimes has to review all these lists himself to find out who is going abroad and for what purpose,” a Kremlin official said.
Many sources have pointed to growing anger among Russian officials over Russia’s war effort.
Indeed, not only has Russia lost an estimated 197,000 soldiers since the start of the war, Putin has also seen thousands of Russian military vehicles, including tanks and infantry transport vehicles, destroyed by Kiev’s armed forces using Western weapons.
And on the frontline, the Ukrainian army said today it had made fresh territorial gains amid heavy fighting around the eastern city of Bakhmut, despite being outmaneuvered and outnumbered by Russian forces.
Kiev has said over the past week that it has stepped up pressure on Moscow’s troops north and south of Bakhmut. Russian mercenaries say they have moved forward in the city, where Kiev has admitted making small progress.
“Despite the fact that our units have no advantage in equipment… and personnel, they have continued to advance [Russian] flanks, covering a distance of 150 to 1,700 metres [165 to 1,850 yards],” military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi said in televised comments.
He did not specify over what period the profits were made. Reuters was unable to verify the situation on the battlefield.
Moscow sees Bakhmut, a city of about 70,000 before Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly 15 months ago, as a springboard to conquer the rest of the eastern Donbas region.
Ukrainian officials have indicated that the advance around Bakhmut is not part of a wider counter-offensive planned by Kiev to push back Russian forces.