(PatriotWise.com) — The Kremlin has told senior officials that they are prohibited from resigning lest they face criminal prosecution, according to Newsweek. The Kremlin reportedly sees resignations during its war in Ukraine as a betrayal. At least two governors had tried to step down after Putin began his “special military campaign” in Ukraine, but they were stopped, according to the independent outlet Vazhnye Istorii (iStories).
A Kremlin source reportedly told the outlet that many officials tried to resign, but if this was successful then the Kremlin would subsequently lose control at a pivot moment. The prohibition did not only affect officials but FSB security agents who were not allowed to leave their posts even after completing their contract because of Putin’s partial mobilization in September that drafted around 300,000 servicemembers.
It appears now that Russia was preparing for its invasion of Ukraine by disallowing officials to join before it took place. A source reportedly told independent outlet Meduza that while each situation is decided on a case-by-case basis, the general pattern is that no one can leave.
Despite this policy, however, two commanders have previously resigned citing conditions at the front. Central Military District Commander Colonel General Alexander Lapin and Russian Airborne Forces Commander Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky. Lapin was then appointed to a top post, according to Newsweek. This hire prompted backlash within the country and a lot of in-fighting because of how he handled the war.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and founder of the mercenary organization the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin placed the responsibility for setbacks on Lapin. They found him to be “incompetent” and protected by leadership from above.
The news comes as Russia recently fired 18 missiles into Ukraine, which intercepted and destroyed all of them, according to Newsweek. Six of them were reportedly hypersonic missiles.
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