Russian Physicists Facing Treason Charges in Connection with Hypersonic Technology

Russian President Vladimir Putin often touts his country’s advancement in hypersonic weapons technology, but a series of Russian physicists involved in this field have been caught up in a wave of treason charges and imprisonments in recent years.

Among those impacted is 68-year-old physicist Vladislav Galkin, whose house was raided by armed men in masks, sparking concerns about the crackdown on researchers linked to hypersonic development.

The cases of scientists like Valery Zvegintsev, Dmitry Kolker, and Viktor Kudryavtsev have raised questions about the extent of collaboration with foreign parties and the nature of the accusations against them.

The arrests have been associated with various institutions such as TsNIIMash, the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM), and the European Space Agency’s Hexafly project, indicating a wide-reaching impact.

Memorial, a human rights organization now based in Lithuania, has been vocal about the atmosphere of suspicion and isolationism surrounding these incidents, especially following Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Legal proceedings and secretive trials have characterized the trajectory of these cases, with concerns raised about the motivations behind the charges and the impact on scientific advancement in the hypersonic domain.

The spate of arrests has not only affected the individuals involved like Anatoly Maslov, but has also cast a shadow over the collaborative efforts between Russian scientists and international partners.