Russians Self-Harm by Purge of Scientists
Putin is cracking down on highly specialized scientists because he overestimates the innovative power of Russian research, and because of his self-destructive paranoia.
A Stalin-style purge of highly qualified scientists is under way in Russia. Putin’s regime is accusing specialists that are essential for weapons development of treason. Even such that Putin himself hypes as great achievements that sets Russia out as superior compared to its adversaries, mainly USA and China. On 3 September, a secret process at a court in Moscow, Alexander Shipliouk, the former director of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM) in Siberia was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason by divulging secrets to China. This was reported from the courtroom by a correspondent from the independent Russian Mediazona which is known for criticism of Putin. The alleged crime happened at a scientific conference in 2017 and the scientist himself claims his material presented at the conference was already public knowledge at the time.
Artist's conception of the X-43A Hypersonic Experiment (NASA - public domain)
BBC Russian writes about this case:
Shiplyuk is a famous Russian scientist, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. He is a specialist in the field of high-speed aerogasdynamics and experimental methods for studying gas flows.
Shiplyuk's sentence is one of the harshest among other cases of treason against Russian scientists. Only Alexey Vorobyov, associate professor of the Rocket Engines Department at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), and candidate of technical sciences, received a longer sentence - 20 years.
Several other Russian scientists have been sentenced to harsh punishments in the last few years, with Vorobyov going to a maximum security penal colony.
Hypersonic missiles
Allthough Shiplyuk has consistently claimed that he is not involved in any military related research, the Russian authorities obviously claims that he has at least had access to this type of information.
Hypersonic technology is at the leading edge of aerodynamics and space research on very high speed aircraft and missiles. Hypersonic speeds are generally speeds over 5 times the speed of sound in the Earth’s atmosphere. In some ways, it compares to the many challenges that were to be solved before aircraft could break the sound barrier and achieve supersonic flight. First, the airflow and the heat developed around the craft differ significantly from what happens at slowed speeds. Second, hypersonic flight for longer periods require a different type of propulsion, because rockets cannot last for long enough and are not economical. A special type of RAM jet is required for sustaining these conditions and that is also part of the hypersonic research and development in most involved countries.
Hypersonic air travel is an international area of research and all of Russia, USA, China and many other nations participate in the non-military exchange of scientific information with published results in scientific journals and at conferences.
That Russia is accusing its own scientists of treason means and can mean a number of things. As the Russian courts keep it secret, we cannot know the exact reason, but most likely, one or more of these are in play:
There is some particular aspect of the Russian research that is so particular that they want to keep it secret in order to gain a military competitive advantage. For good reasons, we cannot know what that is. The leading scientists are among the most likely persons to know that fact. So it is peculiar if they reveal anything like that unless they have been unaware of the issue.
Almost certainly, a big aspect of this is the growing paranoia of the Putin regime. Putin himself mistrusts all and everyone so he could effectively want to set and example, a strong signal, that any misconduct in the scientific society, even at the highest level, will be punished severely even for attempts at transgression. By now, there should be no doubt that Putins is a regime of fear and terror.
The whole thing could also be influenced by the very high profile that Putin himself has given this technology. The ‘Kinzhal’ (dagger) hypersonic missile was mentioned by Putin as invincible and game-changing, before the Ukraine war and early on in the invasion. When the missile was fired the first time, it was shot down over Ukraine, completely negating the whole story that Putin had made a big show out of. Putin may be in vengeance mode. USA and China have similar missiles but have not made any vehement claims about their capabilities, yet.
On May 4, 2023, Ukraine used a U.S.-supplied Patriot battery to down a Russian Kinzhal missile, which Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced in 2018 was a “hypersonic” weapon that could overcome all existing air defense systems.
Of course, it is not unseen that a scientist becomes a traitor or a spy, but that a whole range of scientists are found guilty at the same time looks more like an eradication based on accusations of conspiracy.
All three options may be at play here, in combination. Just like in Stalin’s time, the dictator’s distorted and sometimes outright crazy ideas and perceptions of the real world are prevailing over sound judgement. The Leninists and Stalinists liked to eradicate whole classes and groups of professionals, because they happened to be despicable under the ruling ideology. Stalin persecuted medical doctors, especially if they happened to be Jewish, and certain branches of biology and medicine were twisted in an unscientific, ideological way.
De-route of society and prosperity followed, sowing the seed for the collapse of the Soviet Union right from the beginning. Putin has not learned from history, contrary to what he claims in his speeches. He is driving Russia right into disaster.