"Later we will remember Prigozhin as a hero." Hackers published alleged correspondence between Babich and Peskov

According to Black8Mirror, Babich's archive occupies more than 21 GB and contains materials for the period from 2020 to August 2026. The hackers posted only separate fragments and screenshots publicly.

Mikhail Babich is a former plenipotentiary representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District and former ambassador of Russia to Belarus (2018-2019). Since 2021, he has been Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

Tokayev's "pure improvisation"

One of the published fragments dates back to July 25-26, 2026.

On July 25, during a meeting with Putin in Omsk, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev unexpectedly touched upon the war in Ukraine. He stated that its nature "is not entirely clear" to many, including Kazakhstan, and proposed to "freeze" the conflict.

In the correspondence published by Black8Mirror, Babich asks the interlocutor, identified as Dmitry Peskov, if Tokayev's speech was agreed upon in advance.

"Pure improvisation," the latter replies, adding that someone "asked Tokayev to say this." The only question is who: "Ukrainians, Americans, or someone from within."

Павялічыць

"Well, it's safe"

The correspondence continues the next day, when Navy Day was celebrated in St. Petersburg. The celebration for the second year in a row took place without the main naval parade in St. Petersburg.

On July 26, Putin arrived by car at the Main Admiralty. Instead of the traditional ship review, Putin was greeted by a guard of honor, and he addressed the sailors in the Admiralty courtyard against the backdrop of a large banner depicting a nuclear submarine.

In the published correspondence, "Babich" sharply criticizes the format of the event:

"In the messed-up courtyard of the Admiralty instead of the sea - a banner, instead of troops - a guard of honor of ground soldiers... Dima, who came up with this nonsense, where are they dragging him..."

"Peskov" replies:

"Well, it's safe."

Павялічыць

"It's unlikely you can help a suicide"

The most interesting of the fragments published by Black8Mirror is dated May 24, 2023, approximately a month before the Wagner PMC mutiny and three months before the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin.

In the correspondence, "Babich" forwards to the interlocutor a text summarizing Prigozhin's statements. It says that the imprisonment of Alexei Navalny, in the opinion of the head of "Wagner," "corrupted" corrupt officials. Previously, they allegedly feared falling into Navalny's investigations, which made it difficult for them to use stolen money.

On the screenshot, this text appears as a forwarded message from Nikolai Petrov. A well-known Russian political scientist shares the same name and surname. However, an analysis of the publication showed that the text itself comes from the Telegram channel "EZh," which in May 2023 was called Brief. The corresponding post was later deleted.

Павялічыць

To the forwarded text, the "Peskov" account replies:

"The tragedy is that all of this is true. And all of us, one way or another, talk about it... It's just believed that it shouldn't be discussed publicly."

The conversation then shifts directly to Prigozhin. "Peskov" writes:

"Why he does this, I don't know. The day before yesterday I argued with him for an hour. It's pointless now. He believes that everything is so bad that something needs to be done..."

"Babich" replies that he "for the first time thinks he is right" and asks if they shouldn't "start helping him."

In response, "Peskov" writes:

"It's unlikely you can help a suicide. Later we will remember him as a hero and tell our children about him."

Павялічыць

According to the published screenshot, this conversation took place on May 24, 2023.

A day before it, on May 23, a large interview with Prigozhin was published. In it, among other things, he claimed that instead of the declared "demilitarization," Russia actually contributed to the militarization of Ukraine, and also reflected on the role of Navalny's investigations in curbing corruption.

Exactly one month after the date on Black8Mirror's screenshot, on June 24, Wagner PMC forces occupied military facilities in Rostov-on-Don and moved towards Moscow. The mutiny ended the same day after agreements to stop the movement of columns.

On August 23, 2023, Prigozhin died in a plane crash in the Tver region.

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