Putin Adviser Quits Govt. ‘And Flees Russia.’ NATO Issues War Escalation Warning to Moscow. Kremlin Categorises Peacekeeping Forces As ‘Extremely Dangerous’

The photograph is purpoted to be his though nobody is sure about it. Rumours state that he has since crossed the Russian Borders.

An adviser to Putin leaves the government and reportedly flees Russia; the Kremlin warns NATO after talk of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine; it could lead to a direct clash between Russian and NATO forces. Moscow is said to be preparing for a “large-scale offensive”; Zelenskyy offers hope on “confrontational” peace talks.

The resignation Anatoly Chubais, a Kremlin special envoy and adviser to Vladimir Putin is “encouraging” but is unlikely to shake the Russian president’s firm grip on power, a Western official has said.

The official said the departure of Mr Chubais, the architect of Russia’s post-Soviet economic reforms who once served as former President Boris Yeltsin’s chief of staff, was a “significant statement” – but that he was “relatively high up on the list” of people who might make such a step.

“I think it’s encouraging that there are senior members of the Russian political class that are doing such things, but it doesn’t lead me to a conclusion that this is in any way undermining the security of Putin and his regime, given the iron grip that he holds together with those at the centre of his power,” the official said, on condition of anonymity.

“But nonetheless, I think it is an encouraging statement that such a figure would make this move.”

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Another Russian Commander Killed by Ukrainian Forces, Reports Say.

News of deaths among senior officers in Russia’s military have become slightly unexpected feature of coverage since the invasion of their neighbouring country.

Historically at least, such figures have tended not to be located near the front lines of conflict and instead positioned away from the most dangerous locations during wars.