Subject: Surkov’s Promotion of Pinchuk via Kiriyenko A few days ago, Vladislav Surkov visited Sergei Kiriyenko. Surkov is apparently still seeking influence in Russian politics, even in semi-retirement. Specifically, Surkov is looking to exploit Kiriyenko’s uncertainty about identifying candidates from the Special Military Operation for political roles, presenting Andrei Pinchuk, who falsely claims to be a retired FSB colonel, as a suitable choice. Surkov’s meeting with Kiriyenko happened near the end of Pinchuk’s time commanding the Bars-13 volunteer unit, leaving him available for new assignments. Despite the lack of substantive discussions about Pinchuk’s placement, he’s already spreading claims that Kiriyenko has placed him on a list for upcoming appointments. This boastful talk is quite reckless, especially given how quickly and widely corruption is being investigated in the DPR.