Putin’s “successor” who saved the dictator from the enraged brown bear is preparing a new killer drone army for the Russians to wreak even more havoc on Ukraine
- Alexei Dyumin, 50, is a former Putin bodyguard and former deputy defense minister
- Today he is governor of the Russian region of Tula, where he established a drone pilot school
- He is often mentioned positively in Russian state media and has been identified as a possible successor to Putin
A Russian governor being “prepared” to succeed Vladimir Putin has launched a drone training school for Kremlin troops and intelligence agents to attack Ukraine.
Alexei Dyumin, 50, is a former Putin bodyguard and former deputy defense minister who in 2014 secretly led the operation to bring ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from Crimea to Russia.
He allegedly gained Putin’s trust by saving the dictator from “certain death” by scaring away a bear that was trying to break into a remote presidential mountain residence.
Now the propaganda agency RIA FAN has released videos and images from the drone pilot school set up by Dyumin’s orders in Russia’s Tula region, of which he is the governor.
A drone pilot inspects his drone during a training session in Tula
A Russian governor being “prepared” to succeed Vladimir Putin has launched a drone training school for Kremlin troops and intelligence agents to attack Ukraine
Alexei Dyumin, left, previously served in Putin’s personal security team (right)
Alexei Dyumin, the current governor of Russia’s Tula region, is pictured in his official headshot
The former bodyguard recruited a host of military instructors to train a new army of drone operators as Russia seeks to regain aerial dominance in its war against Ukraine, according to the outlet.
Graduates of the school undergo intensive training before receiving certification. At this point, they are shipped directly to Ukraine to unleash drone strikes or conduct intelligence and reconnaissance operations.
“Since the beginning of the special military operation, Alexei Dyumin has been in constant contact with the Russian Ministry of Defense and with the command of the units in which the Tula reservists serve,” said Maxim Sinyavsky, local Minister of Trade.
‘Soldiers were supplied with additional equipment, machinery and special equipment.
“Mastering the skills of handling drones will enable military personnel to carry out their duties competently.”
Vladimir Putin checks missiles on visit to Tula region; to his right is the region’s governor, Alexei Dyumin, who has been dubbed Putin’s successor by some Russian political analysts
Putin recently visited Dyumin (left) during a state tour to an arms factory in Tula
Alexei Dyumin, 50 (left), is a former Putin bodyguard and former deputy head of GRU intelligence
Dyumin served as deputy head of GRU military intelligence and holds the army rank of lieutenant general.
He was also Deputy Chief of the Presidential Guard.
Now he is increasingly being used as a troubleshooter by Putin, who is said to be suffering from several health problems, to speed up military supplies to the front lines in Ukraine.
Putin met with Dyumin during a state trip to Tula last month to inspect a major arms factory where Dyumin has been overseeing a surge in production.
Putin was seen inspecting armored personnel carriers at the Shcheglovsky Shaft JSC arms factory.
The former bodyguard of the Russian president is getting more and more positive mentions on state television for his support of the despot.
Dyumin previously told how he stared at the bear that was about to attack Putin at a mountain retreat.
“Of course I was armed, the president was upstairs,” said the governor, who is considered a potential president of action should Putin be forced to resign.
“So the bear and I looked into each other’s eyes and he stepped back a little. I opened the door and emptied the whole shell of my pistol under his feet.’
The animal wisely withdrew. Putin later praised Dyumin for not shooting the beast.