In a startling case showcasing Vladimir Putin’s intensifying crackdown, 24-year-old Viktoria Mukhametova has been sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in a Russian penal colony. Accused of selling sensitive tank blueprints to Ukraine for £980, Mukhametova, who worked at the Uralvagonzavod tank plant, now joins the ranks of those targeted under Putin’s recent wave of “spy-mania.”
Russian authorities claim Mukhametova’s actions constitute treason, with FSB agents detaining both her and her husband, Danil, who also faces similar charges. While the precise nature of the “secrets” Viktoria allegedly passed remains undisclosed, her conviction comes amid heightened tension in Russia, with officials suspicious of perceived threats as the Ukraine conflict escalates.
Mukhametova’s case is part of a broader trend as Putin’s government shows little tolerance for dissent or even perceived disloyalty, targeting journalists, factory workers, and political opponents alike. The young woman’s fate echoes that of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who perished under severe conditions in a Russian penal colony, underscoring the harsh realities awaiting those in Putin’s crosshairs.
