**Russia Offered Bounty for US Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan**
A recent investigation by The Insider and Der Spiegel found that Russia’s military intelligence, GRU, offered a large sum of money to Afghan militants for killing US or coalition soldiers. This was done before Washington announced its withdrawal from the country.
The operation was led by Lieutenant General Ivan Kasyanenko, who oversees Unit 29155. This unit has been linked to several incidents in Europe and the UK. The GRU reportedly paid the Taliban over $30 million for attacks on coalition soldiers.
**Why Was the Bounty Offered?**
Russia’s goal was to pressure Western countries into leaving Afghanistan. They wanted to use these attacks to force a US withdrawal from the country. However, the attacks stopped after then-US President Donald Trump made a deal in 2020 to withdraw American troops.
**What Did Other Countries Know About the Bounty Program?**
It appears that both the former Afghan administration and the US government were aware of the bounty program. The National Directorate of Security in Afghanistan learned about it during interrogations of Taliban militants in mid-2019. This was a time when Trump faced criticism for not taking action against Russia’s actions.
**The Impact on US Politics**
This news is significant as it brings back memories of when then-candidate Joe Biden criticized President Trump for his handling of the situation. However, the Biden administration later downplayed these reports. Now, with Trump returning to office, this issue may come up again in US politics.