"Putin Saw Him As A Rival"

The former head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service revealed the identity of Sergei Ivanov, who died suddenly.

In Russia former Defense Minister and ex-head of the Presidential Administration Sergei Ivanov has died. He was also Vladimir Putin’s closest ally and the man who could have ousted him from office.

This was reported by “Channel 24” by Army General and former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Nikolai Malomuzh, who noted that Sergei Ivanov was a systematic leader of the special services and possessed a high level of intelligence and organizational skills. At one point, he was viewed as an alternative to Vladimir Putin.

Ivanov opposed military operations in 2022

Malomuzh noted that it was assumed that after Putin’s first or second term, Ivanov would become president. He was the one who was supposed to shape Russia’s development strategy.

“However, Putin had ambitions to remain president forever. It’s clear that if Ivanov had assumed the highest office, he would have proven himself more effective and consolidated his position in such a way that Putin would never have returned to the presidency. That is why he chose Dmitry Medvedev, who served as acting president (from 2008 to 2012—Channel 24), but under the control of Prime Minister Putin, and this plan worked,” – emphasized the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

At the same time, Putin continued to maintain close contact with Ivanov. He did not remove him, but, according to the army general, he tried to limit his powers and official authority. Although at one point Ivanov was appointed head of the Ministry of Defense, and he also dealt with a number of issues on the Security Council. And when Ivanov was head of the Presidential Administration, Putin relied on him. But he always saw Ivanov as a rival.

Sergei Ivanov was not a specialist in planning military operations. His specialty, as Malomuzh noted, lay in operational-type activities. This allowed him to form pro-Russian governments in various countries, especially in the CIS, and in particular in Ukraine. He also exerted influence over the economies of specific countries and the development of information systems. Therefore, he also posed a threat to Ukraine.

At the same time, Ivanov held his own position, which often did not coincide with that of the Kremlin. In particular, as the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service noted, during the preparation of the operation in Crimea or in 2022, he opposed engaging in active combat operations.

“Ivanov insisted on separate, localized special operations, pressure, and agreements—but all under the control of Russian intelligence agencies. He worked out this option and, together with some individuals close to Putin, opposed Russia starting a war. Instead, he insisted on using other scenarios to gain control over our state,” Nikolai Malomuzh emphasized.

But Putin did not listen to him. He believed that Ivanov lacked systemic influence and underestimated him as a strategist and as a rival who could influence Russia’s elite. In essence, Ivanov performed certain functions, and the Kremlin leader kept him close due to a long-standing tradition and friendship. Subsequently, according to the Army General, Ivanov was relegated to secondary roles within the government.

“In addition, Ivanov had been battling a serious illness for the past ten years. It is known that he underwent several stages of treatment, which ultimately led to his death at the age of 74. It is possible that his health was affected by the circumstances he faced and the pressure he was under. All of this could have accelerated the progression of his illness,” he suggested.

In conclusion, Malomuzh noted that Ivanov was once viewed as a sort of alternative to Putin. But he was no friend of Ukraine. He had his own strategy for relations between Russia and Ukraine, and he had his own supporters who were against the war. However, such people do not dominate Putin’s inner circle.

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