Putin Super-Weapon Program in Peril? Multiple Russian Scientists Linked to Hypersonic Missile Program Arrested

Recent developments have shed light on the tumultuous situation surrounding the Russian hypersonic missile program, once touted as virtually unstoppable by Western powers.

Reports indicate that numerous scientists involved in its development are now facing accusations of "state treason," with some allegedly under arrest and others deceased.

New information reveals the severity of the situation within the Kremlin's hypersonic missile program. According to an attorney representing the suspects, at least three scientists have lost their lives amidst these troubling allegations.

Ukrainian government adviser Anton Gerashchenko took to his X feed to assert that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the incarceration of at least 12 developers of hypersonic technology. Gerashchenko's claims were based on a BBC News report, which referenced statements made by attorney Yevgeny Smirnov.

Smirnov indicated that Russian state security agents scrutinized the scientists' international endeavors, searching for evidence to support a fabricated narrative alleging the sale of classified information to foreign spies.

This narrative, according to Smirnov, serves to bolster Putin's image and further his political agenda.

Contrary to initial assumptions, the suspect scientists were not directly involved in the missile development process but may have shared fundamental aspects of the technology with colleagues abroad.

Reports suggest that some details may have surfaced in a scientific journal in Iran back in 2021, arousing official concerns, according to Newsweek.

Several of the suspects identified by Gerashchenko have been held in custody or under house arrest for an extended period.

Dr. Valery Zvegintsev, a prominent figure in the field, was apprehended in May 2023 along with two others with connections to a European Union research program. These arrests prompted other Russian scientists to issue an open letter challenging the actions of the FSB security service.

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In a more recent incident, Vladislav Galkin, a researcher at Tomsk Polytechnic University, was detained in December on charges of high treason. These developments cast a shadow over the once-celebrated unveiling of hypersonic "super weapons" by Putin to the Russian parliament in 2018.

As the Russian authorities grapple with internal strife within their scientific community, there are concerns about the potential impact on their military capabilities, particularly in the context of tensions with Ukraine.

Gerashchenko raised questions on social media about the detrimental effects of detaining key researchers on Russia's ability to maintain its military prowess.