A video posted by a young blogger claiming to be travelling with a “man from the Kremlin” aboard a Russian military aircraft has sparked a storm of public outrage and triggered calls for a formal investigation, after it was revealed that the man in question is believed to be Russia’s defence minister, Andrei Belousov.
The footage, filmed by 23-year-old Ekaterinburg-based influencer Maria Shalaeva, showed the interior of an Il-76 military transport plane belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defence en route to Rostov-on-Don’s closed Platov airport—a facility off-limits to civilian flights. The clip, which features Shalaeva gleefully showcasing luxury gifts and casually referencing her companion as a high-ranking Kremlin figure, was widely shared on social media before being quickly deleted amid backlash.
Blogger flaunts exclusive access and ‘gifts from the budget’
The video’s caption, “Who says planes don’t fly to Rostov? They do—just not for everyone,” directly challenged the official narrative of restricted access to the war-zone-adjacent region. In the footage, Shalaeva flaunts high-end items allegedly paid for from public funds, openly discusses flying aboard a government aircraft, and teases her exclusive access to the closed airport.
Several media outlets, including Obozrevatel, Bloknot and Vechernyaya Moskva, identified the unnamed “man from the Kremlin” as none other than Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. Public reaction was swift and scathing, with commentators highlighting the security risks and moral implications of using state military assets for private purposes during wartime.
Security breaches and potential criminal probe
The scandal has prompted urgent questions about national security and official misconduct. Russian MPs have reacted strongly. Andrey Alshevskikh, a member of the State Duma’s Committee on Security, called for law enforcement to investigate potential breaches. Andrey Kolesnik, from the Defence Committee, went further, stating that criminal proceedings may be warranted if misuse of state assets is confirmed.
Journalist Andrey Medvedev expressed alarm over the apparent disregard for military secrecy, suggesting that military counterintelligence should probe the incident. He described Shalaeva’s post as a clear security liability. Retired military pilot Vladimir Popov added that while it is not unusual for military personnel to fly with family members or acquaintances, publicly flaunting such privileges during wartime was “reckless and unacceptable”.
Lavish lifestyle amid wartime hardship draws fury
The contrast between the opulent imagery shared by Shalaeva and the reality of Russian soldiers engaged in combat in Ukraine has only intensified public discontent. Critics questioned why the defence minister had time for what some described as “luxury escapades” while troops were dying on the frontlines. Satirical comments on social media dubbed the scandal a “manicure mission” and a “special op for mistresses”, drawing bitter comparisons to earlier reports of corruption and misuse of state resources.
There is also speculation that Shalaeva may have threatened her ex-husband with being sent to the front, a claim she has denied, dismissing allegations as fabrications and insisting she was “just flying and shining”.
As the internet buzzes with memes and commentary, the incident is raising serious concerns inside and outside Russia over military ethics, the abuse of government privilege, and the vulnerability of secure operations to social media exposure. With pressure mounting, it remains to be seen whether Russian authorities will act decisively or attempt to contain the fallout behind closed doors.
