this post was submitted on 02 Jan 2026
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cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/44742454

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) faked the death of Denis Kapustin, commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), and claimed the bounty placed on his head by Russia's intelligence service, HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov revealed on Jan. 1.

"Welcome back to life," Budanov said on a Telegram video, while congratulating Kapustin and the intelligence team involved in the operation.

The announcement follows reports published on Dec. 27 stating that Kapustin, also known by his nom de guerre "White Rex," had been killed during a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In its Jan. 1 statement, HUR said those reports were part of a complex special operation that misled Russian intelligence services.

Russian intelligence services had ordered his assassination and allocated a bounty of $500,000 for the successful completion of the assassination.

"Our side also obtained the funds allocated by Russian intelligence services to carry out this crime," Budanov was told by the commander of the Timur special unit in the video.

"As of now, the RDK commander is on Ukrainian territory and is preparing to continue carrying out assigned tasks,."

...

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[–] Gobbel2000@programming.dev 8 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Well played, this should also teach the Russians not to play such stupid games in the future.

I want to add for context that the RDK (Russian Voluntary Corps), whose leader's death was faked, is in fact a Russian neonazi formation that was formed to fight against the Russians and since 2022 actively take part in the war as a unit under Ukrainian command. The leader, Kapustin, was already widely known within the broader European far-right movement. All that is to say that the person this is about is far more than questionable, but at least right now he is fighting in the right side.

[–] Hirom@beehaw.org 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

That's a torny one, but better Russians fighting against Putin than Russian fighting against Ukraine.

They should be held to the same standard as any other soldier, ie no torture, no harming civilians ...

[–] Bristlecone@lemmy.world 15 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Fucking diabolical! Incredible work you scrappy bastards! They are engaging in the most sophisticated modern warfare ever witnessed

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago

Player Hater of the Year material right here.

[–] You@feddit.org 46 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Most astonishing is Russia actually paying the bounty.

[–] stringere@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 hours ago

Most astonishing is Russia actually ~~paying~~ being able to pay the bounty.

[–] snoons@lemmy.ca 53 points 20 hours ago

LOL they pulled one over on EVERYONE hahah

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 21 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

a bounty of $500,000

How many Russian drones could have been bought for that?

[–] TVG_Fan@lemmy.world 31 points 17 hours ago

It‘s $1,000,000 swing. Not only is Russia down 500k, Ukraine is up 500k. More of that please!

[–] Jiggle_Physics@piefed.zip 1 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

The absolute base model, at bulk rate, is 193,000 USD. Very few are actually that cheap because that is basically just the weapon platform, no weapons, no surveillance equipment, etc.

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 1 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

LOL. That's why I ask for Russian prices.

A few hundred, max.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 7 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

If he was an anti Putin commander, wouldn’t it be easier to just remove him rather than pay for a hired hit? If no, what does this say about the Russian military and chain of command? Is Putin losing control?

[–] SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org 12 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Just check Wikipedia. It's a far-right group of Russians that oppose Putin. Apparently that "White Rex" guy is banned from the Schengen Area for being a Nazi shithead. I would certainly not shed a tear had his death not been faked.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

So Putin’s opposition “separatist” movement are far right Nazis? Thats… discouraging.

You’d think they would align with Putin on the far right part. Even for the Nazi part, for Putin being “anti Nazi” is just some Cold War holdover bullshit code words.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Ukraine has never not been racist. That PR just been swept aside because Russia started a war to steal land and assumed they could easily get away with it.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 7 points 10 hours ago

Eastern Europe is generally racist. Ukraine included.

[–] Monument@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 12 hours ago

Commander of Russian separatist forces.

So — Russians that are fighting for Russia (the country), not Putin. They’re currently aligned with and fighting alongside Ukrainian forces to undermine Putin.