A Russian commander, accused of leading troops into a perilous attack in Ukraine while intoxicated, received the title of Hero of Russia just one month after the operation, according to an independent news source.
The ASTRA Telegram channel, run by independent Russian journalists, reported insights from Alina Bolvinova, the widow of Mikhail Shchebetun, a soldier who was part of the mission in Avdiivka, a strategic town in eastern Ukraine, during February.
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In October 2023, Russia launched a significant offensive on Avdiivka, a location targeted by Moscow since it annexed Crimea in 2014.
Avdiivka, which had around 32,000 residents pre-war, fell to Russian forces on February 17. Following intense fighting, Ukraine’s military retreated to save their troops, allowing Russia to gain full control and marking a notable victory for them.
Reportedly, Colonel Aleksey Ksenofontov was under the influence when he directed a group of mobilized soldiers, including Shchebetun, into a dangerous assault.
Bolvinova recalled her last conversation with her husband on February 14, 2024, where he ominously expressed it might be their final call due to restrictions on communication once they reached the battlefield.
She stated that Ksenofontov indicated to the troops they were being sent into a deadly situation.
Bolvinova received news of her husband’s death on March 9, and just a month later, he was posthumously honored as Hero of Russia, as reported by Kremlin ally Vladimir Solovyov.
In light of her husband’s death, Bolvinova reached out to President Putin regarding Ksenofontov’s actions during the conflict.
“How long will Brigade Commander Aleksey Ksenofontov continue to mistreat soldiers and send them to their deaths?” she challenged, urging the president to address leadership issues within the military.
Additionally, she pointed to other commanders, suggesting a broader culture of negligence and incompetence within the ranks.
A separate case noted Russian soldier Andrei Morozov, who reportedly took his own life shortly after disclosing significant troop losses in the battles over Avdiivka, contrasting the claims of “minimal losses” by former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.