Ukraine kills second pro-Kremlin politician as part of special operation to eliminate 'traitors'

In a recent incident, Oleg Popov, labeled a war criminal by Ukraine died in a car bombing in occupied Luhansk. The Security Service of Ukraine, orchestrating what they term a ‘special operation,’ confirmed this act, highlighting Popov’s alleged involvement in Russian volunteer battalions and illegal armed formations.

This marks the second killing of a Ukrainian figure labeled a ‘traitor’ this week. Ilya Kyva, previously an ex-MP, faced a fatal shooting near Moscow, reinforcing Ukraine’s assertion that those cooperating with Russian occupation face extreme risks.

Popov’s death was initially reported as a contract killing in September 2022, but he resurfaced in February 2023, dismissing prior reports as part of a purported Russian ‘operational game.’ Popov evolved into a local politician in the Luhansk People’s Republic after a pro-Putin grouping took over the SBU intelligence service building in 2014 during the Russian occupation of the Donbas region.

Oleg Popov, serving as the head of the committee on state security and defense in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, joins a list of high-profile figures targeted since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Simultaneously, Ilya Kyva’s demise, shot twice in the head and chest near a Moscow country club, adds to the mounting toll. Kyva, a vocal critic of Ukraine and alleged MI6 stooge, had sought asylum in Russia, portraying the risks faced by those cooperating with Russian authorities.

Kyva’s death occurred shortly after his online post predicting Volodymyr Zelensky’s flight to Britain. He had been wanted in Ukraine for high treason due to his support for Putin’s invasion.

Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesman, Andriy Yusov, unapologetically stated responsibility for Kyva’s demise, emphasizing that justice has diverse forms for traitors and collaborators, asserting the presence of such figures in Russia.