$100 million scandal in the Kremlin: Putin's close advisor took his girlfriend for a manicure on a military jet

Russia is reeling from a scandal that erupted after a defense minister close to Vladimir Putin flew his young lover around Russia on a $100 million military jet. Twenty-three-year-old Maria Shalaeva shared on social media her luxurious trips aboard the Defense Ministry's Ilyushin-76 military jet. Shalaeva described taking her young son, Tim, on the flight and going on a "weekend getaway" on the military plane.

HE TOOK HIS LOVER FOR A MANICURE

Shalaeva wrote in her social media posts that "planes don't fly for everyone, they fly for me," adding that they landed at a military airport specifically for her and that her boyfriend had arranged a manicure for her in Rostov-on-Don, the city also known as the combat headquarters of the Russian armed forces.

Her boyfriend's identity is causing controversy

Shalaeva claimed her lover was "someone from the Kremlin," but didn't directly name him. However, the Belarusian-based independent media outlet NEXTA, after reviewing the young woman's posts, suggested the man in question could be the new 66-year-old Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. The gray-haired man in the videos also appears to resemble Belousov.

While Belousov has no military background, his position and authority in the Kremlin are considered equivalent to the highest echelons of the Russian military. Russian media have so far not confirmed the identity of the person linked to the incident.

“HE FLOWN IN A MILITARY JET AT THREE YEARS OLD”

Shalaeva wrote that she took her three-year-old son, Tim, on this special trip, and that the boy spent time with the pilot in the cockpit. Her words, "He's three years old, but he's already flown in a military aircraft," sparked a huge reaction on social media. It was also noted that they were greeted by a luxury Maybach during the trip.

Security Vulnerability and Intelligence Concerns

Following the incident's media coverage, figures close to the Kremlin highlighted a serious security breach. Pro-Kremlin military blogger Andrey Medvedev stated that Shalaeva's social media posts constituted a potential source of information for foreign intelligence agencies. "The Military Counterintelligence Department will have a lot of work to do on this issue," he said.

Another comment stated that Shalaeva's posts revealed flight routes and military movements, posing a serious risk to national security.

HARSH REACTION FROM MILITARY OFFICIALS

Retired Major General Vladimir Popov, regarding the scandal surrounding the use of a military aircraft for a private trip, said, "Everyone will be found and punished." Popov emphasized that the Minister of Defense bears ultimate responsibility for the flight.

Source: The Sun