Pushing locals aside, Russians take top rebel posts in east Ukraine

[jakeXT]

18. Maybe Akhmetov rumors, being a former SBU man and giving that strange Reuters interview

contributed to Khodakovsky's demise.

Mr. Khodakovsky declined to provide more information about the militia’s financing or the sources of its weapons.

He denied rumors that he was being backed financially by Rinat Akhmetov, a Donetsk-based oligarch who is arguably the region’s most powerful man, but who has recently taken a strong stance against the separatists. He did say that he had told Mr. Akhmetov once that they have “similar interests” in preserving order.

“We are not holding a socialist revolution here,” he said. “We are just trying to solve a problem.”

He also cast himself as a supporter of Alexander Borodai, the political consultant from Moscow who declared himself the leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic last month. But Mr. Khodakovsky laughed off questions about whether that would bring closer ties between Russia and the separatists.

“Everyone has relations with Moscow these days,” he said. “It’s just the logic of politics right now. It’s impossible not to have relations with Moscow.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/05/world/europe/in-ukraine-separatist-militia-with-russian-fighters-holds-a-key.html?_r=0&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Europe&action=keypress®ion=FixedLeft&pgtype=article