Putin's ex‑bodyguard Dyumin to lead anti-terrorism in Kursk

Former Vladimir Putin bodyguard and now secretary of the State Council operating at the Kremlin, Alexei Dyumin, has been designated to lead the "counter-terrorist operation" in the Kursk region. Nikolai Ivanov, a State Duma deputy from Kursk, has confirmed unofficial reports from Russian media.

Vladimir Putin's adjutant, Alexei Dyumin, is set to become the head of the "counter-terrorist operation in Kursk Region." Although the Kremlin has not officially announced this, the reports from Russian media were confirmed in an interview with the Russian network RTVI by State Duma deputy from Kursk, Nikolai Ivanov.

- Indeed, yesterday Dyumin was invited to a meeting with Putin and assigned to oversee the 'KTO' [Counter terror operation] - said Ivanov. According to the deputy, the main task is to defeat the advancing units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the territory of the Kursk region.

Hailing from Kursk, Dyumin was Vladimir Putin's chief bodyguard, later the governor of the Tula region, and a former deputy defence minister. He led special forces that played a significant role in the Crimea annexation operation. Currently, he is a "trusted" advisor to Putin and the secretary of the State Council operating at the Kremlin.

According to reports, Dyumin will be responsible for the military actions in the Kursk region controlled by Ukraine and for leading all "local public administration bodies and security services in the threat zone."

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces control 74 settlements in the Kursk region. The fighting is ongoing along the entire front line.