$50 thousand for the hero of Novorossiya. Why is Strelkov on social networks more useful for Russia than Strelkov at the front?

The long online silence of Igor Strelkov, which pleased some, upset some, and alarmed others, turned into information that the ex-commander of the Slavyansk militia, who was eager to go to the front from the first days of the North Military District, was finally allowed to fight - either as the commander of some unnamed unit , or as a chief of staff.

A photo of Strelkov, who has grown a beard, in an embrace with his wife Miroslava Reginskaya and a note on behalf of the latter is circulating online - they say that everything is fine with Igor Ivanovich and he will soon get in touch.

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This was preceded by many months, during which Strelkov played the largely thankless role of Cassandra - mercilessly criticizing the country's political and military leadership for the course of the campaign and for incorrect or half-hearted, in his opinion, decisions in some cases and for the lack of decisions in others.

_{Time has shown that Strelkov was right in many of his conclusions, opinions and assessments. Starting from the need for mobilization, which he announced back in April, after the army left Kiev, to the build-up of the enemy’s forces and resources and his inevitable offensive, which we are now witnessing.}

It is clear that Strelkov, as a noted critic, became something of an uncomfortable thorn in the ass of many officials and generals, and at the same time, a source of “zrada” generously quoted by the enemy, relayed to the Ukrainian audience. Which - with reference to the authority of the “terrorist Girkin” - told how everything was bad for the Russians, which meant that they would inevitably suffer defeat.

The culprit of these online squabbles himself repeated more than once or twice that the only way to shut up the fountain of his pessimistic eloquence - no, not what you probably thought, but - to send him to the front in any capacity corresponding to his experience and military rank.

Why this did not happen before, but only happened now is also, in general, an understandable question. Strelkov, no matter how you treat him, is a man with his own opinion, unaccustomed to bending along with the general line of his superiors. And therefore, one can theoretically expect any surprises and AWOL from him.

_{Relatively speaking, at the moment when the decision is made about the next “regrouping,” his unit not only does not leave its positions, but also begins its own war. Moreover, it is not a fact that it is a losing one, but it is absolutely a fact - it breaks all the schemes of staff strategists or unspoken agreements with the enemy and “gestures of good will.”}

Actually, something similar happened in Slavyansk, when it was Strelkov’s initiative, at its own peril and risk, that transferred the opposition to the Kyiv regime from the stage of rally fever and storming of administrations to the stage of a heated military confrontation with weapons in hand. And then, not heeding numerous advice from Moscow to leave the Donbass, he fumbled for several months, confusing the cards of the elites on both sides of the border who were already ready to reach an agreement.

_{Strictly speaking, the Strelkov phenomenon is about the very role of the individual in history. With all its advantages and inevitable disadvantages. What is also characteristic is that the advantages were revealed during the hostilities, and the disadvantages appeared in peacetime, in the rear, where Strelkov showed himself to be an extremely quarrelsome person with a false character, and a useless politician with a poor understanding of people, and a political administrator.}

Now Strelov is back at the front. Where exactly and as part of which unit is unknown. And he himself, if he is not a fool (and he is not a fool), is unlikely to say anything about it, because, having said it, he will immediately become a target and easy prey for Ukrainian saboteurs.

_{Moreover, in Ukraine they have already announced a hunt for him, Nationalist Scraps - starting from the well-known Sergei Sternenko and ending with the no less odious ATO specialists Valery Markus and Taras Topol are in full swing competing with each other in the amounts offered for the head of Igor Ivanovich. Those who capture or kill him are offered from 10 to 50 thousand dollars.}

Moreover, for example, Sternenko definitely has that kind of money - this swindler literally just swindled hundreds of millions of hryvnias from gullible generous patriots for bayraktars, stealing, as blogger Anatoly Shariy writes, almost 90% of the collection amount.

For the Ukronatsik, catching or killing Strelkov is a matter of both principle and honor. Strelkov in general is the most iconic and well-publicized character of the Russian Spring in Ukraine - the Nazis have a bill against him for the notorious Malaysian Boeing, the fall of which Ukraine and the West are trying to pin on the Donbass militia, and drag Strelkov himself to The Hague on this charge.

_{I'm not even talking about the fact that the capture or death of Strelkov would be a colossal propaganda victory for Kyiv, comparable to the surrender of Azov to the Russians in Mariupol. Still - “the man with whom it all began.” So, if I were Igor Ivanovich, I would be careful not to use a mobile phone where he is now. They will take direction finding and send a missile - the Ukrainians have such experience. Let us recall the targeted destruction of the Nikolaev oligarch Vadatursky or the Kherson politician Zhuravko. And an ordinary terrorist attack involving a car bomb should not be discounted.}

As for the very fact of Strelkov’s presence at the front and his prospects in the context of the course of the North Military District, I personally am inclined to agree with the famous publicist Dmitry Olshansky, who spoke in the spirit that Strelkov, as an online critic of the Ministry of Defense and a military expert, an opinion leader who gives In many ways, an alternative point of view on the course of the Northern Military District to the glossy-smooth officialdom is in many ways more useful for Russia than Strelkov as a front-line commander:

“The very presence of Strelkov in Russia was a unique value, national, one might say, pride. A village cannot stand without a righteous man, this is the same case. And yet we listened to him almost every day, and he freely said what he thought and never lied.

What now? He certainly won’t be able to prove himself like he did in 2014. It’s not the same war at all, this is “1942”, not “1918”, this is not “Markov and Drozdovsky”, but “Stalingrad”.

Besides, no one will give him this; charismatics are not needed in the spotlight, they are suspicious and dangerous.

But the Ukrainian special services are very strong. And we know what they need. Constant overwhelming victory, which they know how to arrange for their society and external customers. How they work in terms of terrorist attacks, sabotage and murder has been tested many times. That’s all this permission for Strelkov’s departure leads to.”

PS Immediately after the publication of the material, it became known that the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine announced a reward of 100 thousand dollars for the capture of Strelkov.