“Shielded his comrades with his body”: How Russian propaganda turned a pedophile fugitive into a war hero
On Sept. 2, schools across Russia’s Komi Republic held lessons in courage dedicated to Alexander Vlasenkov, a corporal who was killed fighting in Ukraine. By decree of Vladimir Putin, Vlasenkov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. A monument and several memorial plaques have been erected in his home region, and a museum dedicated to him has opened at his former school. On the day…
Alexander Vlasenkov, a Russian hand-to-hand combat champion, was once accused of attempting to rape a teenager. After attempting to flee his legal troubles, he became desperate to repay his debts and sought financial assistance. Vlasenkov traveled to Moscow, where he met with Alexander Matovnikov, a high-ranking politician and former member of Putin's security detail.
The meeting ended with Vlasenkov volunteering for Russia's "special military operation." Matovnikov, who previously had ties to the KGB and the FSB, played a significant role in promoting Vlasenkov as a hero following his death during combat in Ukraine.
Written by urgent.news from The Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
