Ukrainian military intelligence has revealed an elaborate ruse involving a staged assassination of Ukrainian ally and anti-Kremlin fighter Denis Kapustin, who heads the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC). Despite claims of his death following a drone attack in the Zaporizhzhia region, Kapustin is alive and well, having successfully deceived Russian authorities into offering a reward of $500,000 (approximately £370,000) for his assassination.
The Ukrainian military initially reported that Kapustin, also known as Denis Nikitin and “White Rex,” had been eliminated by an FPV drone. This announcement led to emotional tributes from his comrades, who vowed to avenge him. However, on January 1, 2024, Ukrainian Defence Intelligence (GUR) disclosed that the reports of Kapustin’s death were part of a covert operation aimed at preserving his life.
In a video shared on GUR’s Telegram channel, a very much alive Kapustin appeared alongside Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence. Budanov praised Kapustin’s “return to life,” explaining that the complex operation had been in the works for over a month. He stated, “A failure of Russian secret services — the RVC commander is alive, and the half a million dollars received for his ‘killing’ will strengthen DIU special units.”
The GUR revealed that Kapustin’s staged assassination was ordered by Russian special services, which allocated the substantial reward for the supposed crime. As a result of this operation, not only was Kapustin’s life saved, but the identities of those involved in the plot were also uncovered.
Kapustin himself downplayed the impact of the deception on the battlefield, asserting that his “temporary absence had no impact on the work of the units.” He reaffirmed his commitment to continue executing combat and special tasks as the head of the RVC.
This incident has dealt a significant blow to the Kremlin, which had anticipated that reports of Kapustin’s demise would bolster its efforts against anti-government forces. Kapustin, a controversial figure, has a history of far-right activism and has been barred from the European Schengen zone since 2019 due to his extremist associations.
The RVC, established by Kapustin in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, conducts operations alongside Ukrainian forces and is classified as a terrorist organization in Russia. The group aims to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and remove Vladimir Putin from power.
The operation bears resemblance to a previous incident involving Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, whose faked death in 2018 was aimed at foiling an alleged assassination attempt by the Kremlin. Babchenko’s ruse sparked outrage among journalists, but Ukrainian officials maintained it was necessary for his safety.
This latest scheme not only highlights the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia but also underscores the lengths to which Ukrainian intelligence will go to protect its allies and undermine Russian operations.
