Ukraine puts $100,000 bounty on commander of 2014 Donbas rebellion

Brady Knox

October 16, 05:15 PM Oct 16, 05:15 PM

Ukrainian intelligence declared a $100,000 bounty on the head of Igor "Strelkov" Girkin, the central leader of the 2014 pro-Russian Donbas uprising.

The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Military services Defense of Ukraine (GUR) released a statement on its web page supplying a assurance for the important payment to anyone who provides Girkin to Ukraine's captivity. The previous Russian armed forces intelligence officer was extensive blacklisted from returning to Ukraine, serving as a substitute as a navy commentator on the "Distinctive Armed forces Operation," getting one particular of the Russian leadership's fiercest critics for its mishandling of the invasion. His blacklisting was reversed inside the last 7 days, and he has reportedly been offered the put up of deputy battalion commander.

"The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Protection of Ukraine assures the payment of $100,000 for the handover of Igor Girkin (Strelkov) to Ukrainian captivity," a assertion on the web page of the GUR study. "It is identified that a person of the most well known Russian terrorists has resolved to renew his participation in the war against our condition."

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Girkin began the 2014 war in the Donbas area when he led a group of Russian and Ukrainian militants to seize the Donetsk city of Sloviansk on April 12 that 12 months. When talking of combat operations in the early days of the war with Zavtra newspaper, he portrayed himself as mostly liable for the steps of the pro-Russian facet. He then served as protection minister of the so-termed Donetsk People's Republic before leaving the posture later on that yr. Girkin said he was made to resign around disagreements with the Kremlin, ensuing in threats to slash off his provides, in accordance to the liberal dissident Boris Nemtsov's report on the war, "Putin. The War."

Girkin has been lively on social media, running a Telegram channel with 750,000 followers, loaded with criticism of the Russian leadership all over the war. He went darkish on Monday, drawing suspicions that authorities had last but not least silenced him, right until a post from his wife on Saturday, demonstrating him in fight fatigues and saying he would "be in touch shortly."

"Procedure Z: War Correspondents of the Russian Spring," a well-liked Russian nationalist Telegram channel with around 1.1 million followers claimed that Girkin was headed to the entrance as a deputy battalion commander, on the affliction that he ceased his postings on social media.

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His joining of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine will be the sixth war in which he has participated, subsequent those in Transnistria, Bosnia, two in Chechnya, and now two in Ukraine, in accordance to his job interview with Zavtra. Ukrainian and Western officers have accused Girkin of a slew of war crimes, including, "terrorist functions, torture, murder and violation of state sovereignty," according to the GUR. He is also required in the Netherlands for his alleged purpose in the downing of MH17.