Archive · 2 Jan 2026
Ukraine Fakes Death of Anti-Putin Fighter
Ukraine pretended that a man named Denis Kapustin, who leads a group fighting against Russia, had died.
They did this to stop Russian special forces from killing him.
Russia had offered half a million dollars to have him killed.
Ukraine's military intelligence saved his life and found out who was behind the plan.
Denis Kapustin is known for his links to far-right groups and has been declared a terrorist by Russia.
This is not the first time Ukraine has faked someone's death to prevent an assassination.
In 2018, they did the same thing with a reporter named Arkady Babchenko, which caused a lot of controversy.
Ukraine staged the death of Denis Kapustin to prevent his assassination ordered by Russian special services.
Kapustin, leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps, was declared dead on Saturday but appeared alive on Thursday.
Russian special services allocated $500,000 for Kapustin's assassination, which was thwarted by Ukrainian military intelligence.
Kapustin has links to the far-right, football hooliganism, and ran a clothing brand called White Rex.
Russia has declared Kapustin a terrorist, and the case resembles the 2018 faking of Arkady Babchenko's death.
- Who
- Denis Kapustin (Denis Nikitin), leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps
- What
- Ukraine faked Kapustin's death to prevent his assassination ordered by Russian special services
- When
- Kapustin's death was announced on Saturday, and his survival was revealed on Thursday
- Where
- Ukraine
- Why
- To prevent his killing ordered by Moscow's special forces and to identify the perpetrators
- Name
- Denis Kapustin (Denis Nikitin)
- Role
- Leader of Russian Volunteer Corps
- Assassination Order
- Ordered by Russian special services
- Assassination Cost
- $500,000
- Operation Outcome
- Kapustin's life preserved, perpetrators identified
- Previous Incident
- Arkady Babchenko faked death in 2018
- Kapustin's Background
- Links to far-right, football hooliganism, mixed martial arts, clothing brand White Rex
- Russia's Stance
- Declared Kapustin a terrorist