Thread by @EventsUkraine

Who is Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) general Gennadiy Kuznetsov, detained and released yesterday in Hungary supervising a bank van with 9 kilograms of gold, 45 million euros, and 40 million dollars?

🧵

1/ The arrest took place on March 6.

Hungarian foreign minister said that at stake was a 'Ukrainian military mafia', and noted the presence of an SBU general

Ukrainian foreign minister called it an act of 'state terrorism' and 'hostage taking'

All those arrested were released today and returned to Ukraine (pictured)

2/ Ukrainian journalist such as Vitaly Glagola, a native of the western regions bordering with Hungary, have named the SBU general mentioned by the Hungarians as Gennadiy Kuznetzov (pictured)

3/ Ukrainian television did an hour-long investigation into General Kuznetsov in 2020. He is notorious for corruption.

4/ Kuznetsov was convicted of corruption in his position as an SBU officer in June 2011

However, he returned to the SBU in early 2014, reinstated by maidan acting president Turchinov (pictured)

In the 2011-2014 period, Kuznetsov was Turchinov's bodyguard

5/ Kuznetsov was made chief of staff at the SBU’s Anti-Terrorist Centre (ATC) in January 2015

The ATC commanded the Anti-Terrorist Operation (war) in Ukraine's east from 2014-2018

6/ Because this was not a war, but an anti-terrorist operation, there were no legal rules for POW exchanges

Kuznetsov was constantly dogged by accusations that he organized massive corruption in the exchange process. He managed exchanges from 2014 onwards

7/ According to Ukrainian journalists and civil activists, Kuznetsov demanded bribes of $30,000 to $80,000 USD to escape captivity in the Donetsk People's Republic prison

Often, the 'Ukrainian patriots' freed were simply apolitical rich businessman that had been taken hostage

8/ Kuznetsov's SBU structures reportedly also kidnapped civilians in parts of Ukraine they controlled to receive a ransom during exchanges, threatening family members they would be killed

9/ In 2019, an SBU officer took a photograph of a rare miniature Schnauzer that Kuznetsov ordered to be abducted in the Donbass

It was taken to Kuznetsov's 552m2 Kyiv mansion

Kuznetsov is often called 'the Hunter' or 'the Dog-Handler' for his love for animals

10/ In 2019, two internal investigations in the SBU found Kuznetsov had been involved in massive corruption

He was reprimanded but continued in his role

11/ Before I forget, read more here eventsinukraine.substack.com/p/gold-bars-in…

12/ In 2019, Kuznetsov's direct subordinate at the Anti-Terrorist Centre became a very public defector to Russia

Vasyl Prozorov (pictured) boasted in Moscow of spying for Russia since 2014

Nothing happened to Kuznetsov, and Zelensky promoted him as chief 'POW' exchange man

13/ In 2022, Kuznetsov was finally removed from the SBU because he had been named in a phone conversation between an SBU officer arrested for treason and his Russian handler

They wanted to promote 'the Hunter'

14/ Despite all his sins, Kuznetsov avoided significant punishment due to his closeness to Andrey Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff from 2020-26

The prisoner exchange hype was what elevated Yermak to this position

Yermak is also often called a Russian agent by nationalist critics

So what was Kuznetsov doing with all that cash and gold in a Ukrainian state bank van in Budapest?

Some say Russian special operation to Ukr-Hung relations

But Zelensky is doing very well at ruining them himself

I went into theories here

eventsinukraine.substack.com/p/gold-bars-in…