Halya Coynash
Kanygin has been told by big Ukrainian wholesalers
that Zakharchenko’s people also ensure that food items are delivered from
government-controlled Ukraine. Unfortunately, his research suggests that
Ukrainian armed units are also taking part in ‘protection’ for the flow of
goods.
Kanygin spoke with a source “close to the President’s
Administration” (he presumably means Vladimir Putin’s administration) who
suggested that the Kremlin knows what these individuals like Zakharchenko are
about. It is not concerned, however, about internal squabbles and how
they divide up the goodies. If the Kremlin wants to put them in their
place, it will do so instantly, and they should all remember that, the unnamed
source says.
The constant rumours that Zakharchenko has been, or is
about to be, ousted have thus far come to nothing. The rumours become
most rife when Vladislav Surkov, Putin’s aide appears in Donbas, which he is
reported to have done at least twice in recent months. One of the
indicators of a power struggle has been the increase in anti-Semitic rhetoric, targeting
Alexander Khodakovsky.
Khodakovsky has less ‘bayonets’, but still controls
1-2 thousand fighters from the Vostok brigade. The ex-head of a Donetsk
SBU [Ukrainian Security Service] Alpha special force unit has also, according
to Kanygin, retained many of his old close ties with the Donetsk elite which
raises his influence.
Surely most importantly, he is widely seen as
Zakharchenko’s replacement, and judging from Kanygin’s report, this is how he
is viewed by Moscow. Whether or not with grooming from Moscow,
Khodakovsky publically supports Donbas’ reintegration into Ukraine, but with
close contacts with Russia. He says that he does not support joining the
Russian Federation, but insists on special status for the area.
This, it should be noted, is increasingly the line
taken in Moscow.
Khodakovsky also presents himself as the potential
leader, able to reach agreement with everybody. According to Kanygin, he
is supported by Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest oligarch and former close
ally of Viktor Yanukovych.
Denis Pushilin does not have his own fighters, nor
influential patrons, yet he remains in a prominent position and takes part in
the Minsk negotiations.
Kanygin’s sources in Moscow and Kyiv assert that from
early in 2014 Pushilin received tens of millions of roubles for organizing
protests, buying food, transport and equipment. Huge amounts were spent,
for example, on the so-called ‘May referendum”. The coordinators of the ‘Novorossiya project’
say that most of this money was simply stolen.
15 million for his services?
Kanygin adds one other person to his list of
influential people. Igor Girkin who was identified by US officials as working for Russia’s GRU military
intelligence service. Girkin played a major role in Russia’s invasion of
Crimea, and was one of the first people on the US sanction list. He then
moved to eastern Donbas and played an equally active role in seizing control
there. The evidence found after his forces abandoned Sloviansk demonstrate that
he personally signed execution orders. During the period when the city
was under ‘DPR’ control, abductions, hostage-taking, torture and extra-judicial
executions and murders became an everyday occurrence.
Kanygin notes that “the Kremlin removed Girkin from
its list of war managers a year ago.” After returning to Russia, Girkin created
a civic movement called ‘Novorossiya’ and collected lots of money, including
through tours around Russia, accompanied by PR consultants and ideological
comrades. This was supposedly a volunteer movement and fund that was
independent from the Kremlin.
Kanygin’s source for some of his allegations is Vera
Girkina, whom he refers to as Girkin’s former wife. She claims that
Girkin “made a fortune on this war and the ‘Novorossiya movement’ is his
project”. He was paid generously, including for Sloviansk, she says, and
asserts that the amount of money may have been as much as 15 million roubles
Girkin’s press-secretary Anastasia Mikhailovskaya
called the report delirious nonsense, and then said: “You were beaten up in
Donetsk, after all, and you know how many unhinged militants are wandering
around Moscow at the moment?”
Menacingly clear and from Girkin’s camp worth taking
seriously. He, and those who have made use of his murderous services over
the last 18 months should know.
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