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Russian scientists working on hypersonic missile technology are facing intense persecution from the FSB, threatening the progress of this crucial defense sector, comments the independent publication The Moscow Times. Four leading physicists have already been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 to 15 years on charges of treason, causing a halt to many research projects as other scientists fear becoming the next targets of repression.
The latest to be convicted is Alexander Shiplyuk, director of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, who was accused of leaking classified information to China at a scientific conference in 2017. Shiplyuk maintains his innocence, but this has not stopped the wave of arrests that began after President Putin’s 2018 speech, where he unveiled hypersonic missiles as “invincible” weapons.
The crackdown has already led to the deaths of several scientists, including Viktor Kudryavtsev, who did not survive to face trial after over a year in pre-trial detention. Others, such as physicists Dmitry Kolker and Roman Kovalev, passed away from illness shortly after their arrests.
Fearful of further persecution, many scientists have ceased their work on hypersonic technologies, which could significantly impact Russia’s military-technical capabilities, told Wall Street Journal. It is estimated that at least 12 researchers in this field have been arrested since 2018, as the FSB’s campaign intensifies.
