One of the sharpest Russian political analysts, Sergei Mikheev, just gave a phone interview following the murder of Zakharchenko. Here is the original Russian version (sorry, no subtitles available):
The key part is this:
In general, I think it is outrageous that those who must be responsible for the security of Zakharchenko blinked when this terror act happened. As a minimum, yes. If, of course, all this information is indeed confirmed. Because it was absolutely obvious.. it’s not for the first time that the tactic of Ukrainian terrorists – let’s call it like this, it is exactly like that – is tracing travel routes, planting explosive devices, most likely work with informants, and blowing things up by committing terrorist acts. I.e., the handwriting is obvious. This has been happening for already a very long time. So, those who must be responsible for this security should’ve been engaged in these things. Time after time very large lapses take place concerning those who are responsible for security in the DPR. In my opinion it is just a failure by the Donetsk special services and all those who organise and who are responsible for the security of Mr Zakharchenko.
If at least something good can come from this tragic murder, I hope that it will be a substantial reform of the DNR security services and a serious, sustained and determined effort by the Kremlin to provide the needed technical assistance to the DNR/LNR.
The Saker
PS: by the way, there are already eyewitness reports about the extremely poor security which Zakharchenko was given. Hopefully there will be a serious investigation followed by some major reforms.
Security for “Dad” as Zakh was referred to by the citizens of the DNR, would have had to be equal to Putin’s or Trump’s. In other words, it is unrealistic to think in a city and the oblast where he had to operate as President and Commander of the Army (reacting to emergencies at the front) he could be universally, 24/7 protected from assassins.
The best snipers money can buy are operating in the area. They didn’t kill him.
The breakdown in security was very close, inside the DNR structure. Someone very close, on his detail, sold him out. That made the bomb placement easy.
When you have a Judas, you get crucified.
Should he have had better security? Yes.
Would it have stopped this event. No.
If you think a 4-year old city-state like Donetsk could protect its leader while in a state of siege conducted by people, Ukies, who are 40% of your census, paid for by the USA, trained by NATO, allied with Mossad and IDF agents, and enticed by rewards of millions of dollars for the hit, you are deluding yourself.
He knew it was impossible. His remark: Whatever will be, will be.
Many great men sense their destiny. We read of MLK, Jr., Gandhi, Patton, and many others who knew that the life they led made enemies who would reach them and slay them.
Zakh did all he could do for his people. He obeyed Surkov/Putin’s instructions. He fought with his men, from in front. He lived an open, virtually unshielded life so normalcy could develop and people helped build the economy of Donetsk.
Over the years, the bodyguards from Russian military went away. The local bodyguard detail was minimal. And he often drove himself with one guy along in the SUV. Why? He knew a blast would be the way they’d get him. They had tried several times with bombs. They got Motorola that way. It would minimize the losses if he had fewer men around him.
He was doomed by the nature of this particular war.
Would he be alive today if he had ultra-tight security?
Yes.
Until the Judas saw some time, some place where a bomb would work.
Like in his family home or vehicle with his kids and wife.
For millions of dollars, Zakh would have been slain some time, some place.
It was his destiny.
Totally agree with Larchmonter. Further, we are not privy to the realities on the ground and so speculation and hypothesising is both infantile and, in fact counter- productive.
Then don’t speculate. All I can say is that I don’t like it at all and that I completely agree with The Saker’s first analysis of this sickening murder.
Russia seemingly needs to do far more to protect its assets. Whether it is an icon like Aleksandr Zakharchenko or the Alexandrov Ensemble on its way to Syria.
‘Over the years, the bodyguards from Russian military went away.’
And that is where the problem was, is and will be for future DNR leader.
Kremlin MUST be directly involved with this activity, weather leader of DNR like it or not.
If team of roughly 10 Russian special forces unit is 24/7 with Syrian General, who is commander of Tiger Forces, makes you wonder why is not the same case with leader of DNR, who is obviously more important.
Everyone can say what they want, but Kremlin is to blame for this, in my opinion. No one else.
This was not a one time event, it is happening year after year.
And how pathetic is this comment from Russian Foreign Ministry:
“The assassination of one of the signatories of the Minsk Package of Measures runs along Kiev’s logic of a military solution to the internal Ukrainian crisis. Such actions carry the serious risk of destabilising the situation in southeast Ukraine”.
No s..t Sherlock.
As Mark Sleboda commented, this has to be a nominee for understatement of the year.
We probably are closing to the moment when it will be squarely blamed on Putin, who ordered the assassination.
Well, here’s the basic security that someone like a US President would have. As I understand this was a gathering to be held to honor the Russian singer who recently passed away. So, lets say a US President wants to attend something like that. The first thing the Secret Service would want would be to move it out of the cafe an to the White House Rose Garden or some similar place they already secure.
If the President objected, and insisted on going to the cafe, then the Secret Service would have taken over the cafe at closing time the night before. Possibly earlier. They would have then spend the night searching the cafe for bombs, hidden assasins, poisons etc. For bombs, they would have used dogs trained to detect explosives. The next morning, everyone entering the cafe would have been searched, gone through metal detectors, scanned by hand wands or some combination of the above, likely with the bomb dogs within sniffing distance. Before the cafe opened to the crowd, the agents would have done one last final search of the building to make sure they hadn’t missed anything, or that nothing had been smuggled past them. Then, and only then, would the President have been allowed to travel to the cafe.
The above doesn’t take a huge amount of resources. 10 loyal men and women could accomplish most of it. Perhaps some good scanners from the Russians, or the Russians could provide trained dogs if perhaps the Donbas hasn’t already got them after 4 years of war.
As I heard it, the bomb was hidden in the doorway to the cafe, then likely set off at the deadly moment by someone watching from a distance with a cell phone. If it was a simple timer they got very lucky, as every politician in the world runs late and behind their planned schedule. I’d also imagine the Russians could supply cell phone jammers, but they aren’t technically difficult since they are just a radio transmitter broadcasting on the frequency used by cell phones.
Given a crew of loyal people performing such tasks, there can be enough overlap such that even if a traitor has leaked the President’s schedule, then security still prevents the bomb attack. Or that even if a traitor in the security gets to plant the bomb, repeated searches by different people can uncover it. That’s one reason why the Secret Service secures a site as early as possible and then does multiple search up until the very last minute.
No matter how good a Kremlin strategy or technique, some here will say it was terrible. No matter how lousy, some will say it was great. However, for whatever reason, the Kremlin has been unable to protect key figures in the breakaway areas.
On the bright side, maybe we won’t hear as much about the sanctity of Minsk for a while.
Larch, those are precisely my thoughts. No matter how hard you try you almost can’t stop the inside job. We have to remember that all of Donbas, Novorosiia, which includes DPR, LPR consists of the people who lived in what used to be Ukraine and many of them long the “Western Dream” which makes them an easy target for external forces. I am pretty sure that Zacharchenko was protected, but occasionally protection fails. As far as I know the borders between Ukraine and DPR are practically non-existent and this is one of the main problems. Even Russia still have visa free go through as you please borders with Ukraine.
As the first murders occurred (GIvi, Motorola, etc) personal security would have been provided by “external” actors ie. Russian experts to be in place around Zakh. One does not have to be a genius to figure out that this was going to happen. Very bad, real bad for the Kremlin in my opinion.
The breakdown in security was very close, inside the DNR structure. Someone very close, on his detail, sold him out. That made the bomb placement easy.
I fully agree. The murder of Zakharchenko (and the murder of Imad Mughniyeh) could not have happened without accomplices inside the DNR (and the Syrian) security services.
The Saker
According to ref it was explosive placed in a lamp inside the restaurant. Proffs would never have allowed that.
Indeed, if this was indeed incompetence, then it is what it is and much corrective action must be taken. However, if it was willful incompetence, i.e an inside job, then that is another story. Obviously, all facts are not available. By inside job, I do not mean Russian activities. I mean DPR or other related parties.
f
Observing photos of the crowds of mourners and those paying respects and honor, it is strikingly obvious that Zakharchenko was a respected and trusted leader. The crowds are a reflection of Russian soul and strength in sadness.
Atrocious suspect suddenly popped in my mind… Zakharchenko’s killing, just hours before McCain’s funeral. A farewell gift?
“Zakharchenko’s killing, just hours before McCain’s funeral. A farewell gift?” Also, “Ex-US Envoy to UN Claims ‘McCain Sent Parting Message to Putin’ Former US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power has published a tweet suggesting that recently deceased Senator John McCain wanted to send “a parting message” to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump via his funeral ceremony.
Power claimed that the senator had specifically requested that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg be seated beside each other during the ceremony to indicate to Trump and Putin that the US “stands with its friends and allies.”
From the description of the assassination which I read, it would seem someone played the role that Frank Mankiewicz played in the assassination of RFK (it was Mankiewicz who brought RFK through the kitchen, where Sirhan Sirhan (the fall guy) had been waiting for half an hour). Some one knew of (or suggested) the outing to the restaurant, some one left a package, which exploded right after Zakharchenko entered. This smells of a set-up, much as the killing of RFK.
Some things to consider..
It is ‘good’ for Russian oligarchs that Zakharchenko is dead, forcing us to consider the possibilty his murder was staged. His strong presence made ignoring the concerns of ‘Novorussia’ impossible. This made him a potential impediment to Trump-Putin cooperation in the Greater Game and the efforts of Trump and Putin to establish a Yalta-like framework (in Helsinki) for the new NWO. With Novorussia effectively silenced US (Trump Nationalist Authoritarian) and Russian Deep State cooperation can now continue against the Rothschild-UK faction without anyone worrying Novorussians will sabotage agreements which force them to rejoin Ukraine, which I suggest is now inevtable. Novorussia is dead I am sorry to say.
I have not read Putin’s comments on the presumed murder of Zakharchenko but I can practically guarantee he did not mention Novorussia. Russia continues to play for all of Ukraine, not just bit parts. Novorussia will remain part of Ukraine because that is the Russian interest.
Second, as with the presumed murder of Motorola, reported on this blog as having been faked by none other than Scott Humour, the killing of Zakharchenko may very well have also been staged. The possibility that Zakharchenko would be given a choice in such a matter is highly likely given his ‘service’ to Russia. All public actors in geopoltical affairs are exactly that — actors. If we have learned nothing else over the past decade or so it must be this.
The latest round of jawing between Russia and NATO in the eastern Mediterranean is also essentially staged but that does not exclude the possibility those loyal to the Rothschild-UK Deep State could force a clash between US and Russian fleets — or if I were a betting person, turn Netanyahu back to his Rothschild-UK roots, have Israel stage a provocation and ultimately betray the Russians who are still woefully exposed should a real war get underway. Erdogan also could turn but Bibi is the main one to watch.
If they do turn to the Rothschild-UK faction this war lasts for 30 more years. Ask yourself if it is in the interests of messianic megalomaniacs Netanyahu and Erdogan to preserve the current state of war and chaos or make peace and forever close the door on dreams of Greater Israel and an Ottoman Empire reborn.
So you’re suggesting the death or “death” is part of a project to re-integrate the East. That would make Poroshenko the goat. I guess time will tell.
Well said, L445. Essentially agree.
Now consider the following “insignificant” titbit of news:
“… Syria has condemned the murder of Aleksandr Zakharchenko, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic …”
You might rightfully suspect this is a quote straight from either Washington Post or New York Times, or perhaps it was read on CNN, or MSNBC…
Well, sorry to disappoint you, https://www.rt.com/newsline/437398-syria-condemns-murder-leader/ . Yes, indeed, that is how RT – a bona-fide outlet of Russian government – always writes, rubbing-in this “self-proclaimed” ad nauseam… Lest “someone’s” western “partners” get gravely offended…
I agree, but if you don’t proclaim your independence yourself, you are not independent.
@ Norwegian
You seem to be missing the point: this is not about the Donetsk People’s Republic’s rightful declaration but about the politics of the current Russian Federation government.
Did the Trump Regime Order Donbass Leader’s Murder?
https://www.globalresearch.ca/did-the-trump-regime-order-donbass-leaders-murder/5652680
“Was it an extrajudicial assassination ordered by Trump hardliners, which took Zakharchenko’s life, murdered by a blast in central Donetsk?”
Is all this blaming the Donetsk security people an attempt to deflect scrutiny away from those responsible and direct it into a harmless (to the zionazis) exercise of navel gazing?
Lendman’s blog was deleted by Google, probably for asking such wuestions.
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/
“Blog has been removed
Sorry, the blog at sjlendman.blogspot.com has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs.
Did you expect to see your blog here? See: ‘I can’t find my blog on the Web, where is it?'”
holy sh*t. its getting close to home now – SL has to do what Saker did – hopefully will do so now
The assassination was obviously carried out by a hit squad, trained by NATO specialists, and is part of the low intensity warfare carried by NATO’s Ukrainian proxies since the battle of Debaltseve in January 2015. In this respect nothing has changed. Zakharchenko was a charismatic and effective leader who took the battle to his enemies (unlike some of the more diplomatic softball approaches by some that could be mentioned).
Consideration of what is at stake – i.e., the over-running of the Donbass by the Ukro-Nazis – will perhaps concentrate the mind. Such an event would be catastrophic for Russia since in would bring NATO’s cold war spearhead, the fully militarised neo-nazi formations right up to the Russian border less than 100 km from Rostov-on-Don. This would alter the entire balance of forces in that area and attempt to integrate the whole of Ukraine into NATO. The Donbass is not simply, a nuisance, as some seem to think, but the front line buffer zone protecting Russia. Clearly the Ukro-Nazis are not remotely interested in any sort of settlement other than a clear victory and have made their intentions clear.
Putin has repeatedly said that he will not allow the Donbass to be over-run; for the time being we must take him at his word. I assume he is aware of the strategic importance of this small area as a key political/military shield. Any attempt to dump the Donbass would be not only stupid and immoral but a strategic blunder and frankly unforgivable.
It has been reported that Putin ordered Russian investigators to go to the DPR to (help) find the murderers of Zakharchenko, according to “Rosbalt” (Росбалт) with reference to a source in 1 of the power departments of the DNI.
Not only to find, but to punish. And it was also reported that the SBU head hrytsak said that the ukrainian special services had nothing to do with his death – I hope they are very worried. Hopefully there is a Russian squad which is going to find the murderers, and…
I am back again, with my $0.01 thoughts. It seems to me that every time there are some World events where Russia stands up to the hegemon, Russia gets hit dirty and painfully. We can start with Kursk, Fires in Moscow, Russian politicians (ambasadors to UN, etc, etc), murder of kids at school in the south, theater in Moscow, the list goes on, including the fire in Siberia. To that we have to add Odessa, and all the assassinations in Donbas, as well as deaths of jurnalists in Ukraine. It’s a long list of underhanded events intended to depress and intimidate Russian government. Fortunately Russian Government takes the leaking and keeps on ticking. This is what has to be done. Right now the name of the game is Idlib and Zakharchenko was chosen to be Intimidation Target. I am pretty sure there were many other targets considered, but he was public person, therefore it hurts more. Now we have to watch what happens in Syria.
An inevitable episode in a dirty war. Is there any war that is not dirty?
Traitor in your midst.
It takes an exceptional counter-Intel bureau to uncover a traitor.
No nation in history has gone through its history without traitors. Often at the cost of the Leader’s life.
Of course, now we have Putin to blame.
So, of course, Putin was the reason Zakh died. Total nonsense.
And the second position in this nonsense is of course, Putin should have surrounded Zakh with the same protection he has in the Kremlin. Which of course is elementary if it wasn’t stupendously ludicrous.
To think in the 18 years of Putin there hasn’t been a traitor or two tempted by $$$ is silly. The reason a hit has never occurred is Hundreds of Millions of Dollars are expended to make the actual hit impossible.
But Moscow, Sochi or Tuva are not Donetsk.
Putin could not be secured in Donetsk.
Donetsk is a shooting gallery, a viper’s nest. There are thousands of fanatical Ukies whose roots there are as deep as Zakh’s. They are overt and covert from the start of the war. They are part of the government. They represent Kiev and/or Rinat Akhmetov and his billions (much of which has been nationalized in Donbass and Crimea).
If you could take a census in Donetsk, it would be unsurprising to find 1000 hard core SBU assets, and 5000 lesser agents who would have gleefully assisted the hit on Motorola, Givi and Zakh. 40 % of the one million people are Ukrainian supporters. Look at the votes in the history of elections. Donbass is not Crimea. It was divided, the majority Russian, a large minority loyal to Ukraine.
A traitor could work for $$$, for ideology or from coercion. Whatever was the catalyst, it happened.
And that is why he is dead.
200,000 people lined up for his funeral. 6 hours of passing by his coffin before the incredible procession to the grave site. Motorola’s funeral was thought huge. One-fourth the size of Zakh’s.
They loved him. He lived and worked among the people. That’s what revolutionaries do. That’s how they win. But it is also how they die. And most of the time, someone very close to them is in on the assassination.
Larch, my one cent again. Putin did not dispatch Zakharchenko to St. Peter. If he wanted him out, he would have sent him a note with one single word “Resign”. And it would have been done. Putin was an indirect target in this assassination.
I think someone ‘ll not even have time to be sorry about this. This is messing with Russia, and in a most reckless manner. Putin turned a blind eye to the attempt to kill him with an attack that hit the wrong , Malaysian plane, and he did not react for the sake of grand politics. That caused more trouble. Something tells me, his patience has limits and this time it could well have been overstepped.
And don’t tell me Russia cannot deal with a heap of ukie Nazis with ease. Some much worse ones have been dealt with.
Russia 1 TV – Live
Sunday evening with Vladimir Solovyov
Power of the Word (Сила Слова) – Youtube channel
Donbass WILL TAKE REVENGE! Zhirinovsky about Ukraina and the MURDER of Zakharchenko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSANx6lcblM
You can change the subtitles to English