Russian Defense Minister, rumored to be bedridden, says "I stayed in a nuclear bunker in the Ural Mountains"

UK Daily Mail Reports Claims by European Private Investigative Journalism Group

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-ho Kim] Claims have emerged that Sergey Shoigu, the Russian Defense Minister who disappeared from public view for fifteen days amid rumors of illness, had been staying in a 'nuclear bunker' within the Ural Mountains.

On the 29th (local time), the British Daily Mail reported these claims made by Kristo Grozev, the Russia security specialist of the European civilian investigative journalism group Bellingcat.

In a video interview with Ukrainian TV Channel 24, he stated, "I am certain that Minister Shoigu was definitely in the bunker," presenting data tracking the plane Shoigu uses as evidence. It was identified that the plane, known to be used by the Russian Defense Minister, had been continuously flying near Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Ufa is located about 1,200 km east of Moscow towards Siberia, situated south of the Ural Mountains. Grozev argued, "Considering the fact that there is a bunker in the Ufa area, it leads to the clear conclusion that Minister Shoigu stayed in the bunker for the fifteen days."

According to the British daily The Times, Russia has reportedly installed a military bunker on Mount Yamantau, about 140 km from Ufa, since the late 1970s. The Times reported that the bunker is capable of military command even in the event of a nuclear war. Earlier, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian presidential office, mentioned to CNN on the 22nd that nuclear weapons could be deployed if the nation's existence is threatened.

Meanwhile, Minister Shoigu last appeared publicly on the 11th when he met Hulusi Akar, Turkey's Minister of National Defense, and visited a military hospital in Moscow to award medals to wounded soldiers. Since then, he has had no public appearances for fifteen days. Western media have speculated that Shoigu, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest aides, may have been ousted or is experiencing health issues.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.