The loyalists behind Putin’s war machine
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Ultimate responsibility for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rests with Vladimir Putin, 69 (left), but the president also relies on a deeply loyal inner circle of highly trusted advisors

NIKOLAI PATRUSHEV, 70
Secretary of Security Council: Hawkish, highly influential, long- term Putin loyalist who worked with him at KGB in 1970s, during Soviet era

SERGEI LAVROV, 71
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Wily senior diplomat who represents Russia on world stage. Not considered major decision- maker

SERGEI SHOIGU, 66
Minister of Defence: Credited with seizure of Crimea in 2014, and believed to have overseen 2018 nerve agent poisoning in Salisbury, UK

ALEXANDER BORTNIKOV, 70
Director of Federal Security Service (FSB)*: Another long-term Putin loyalist from Leningrad KGB days – likely not as influential as others in group

VALENTINA MATVIYENKO, 72
Chairwoman of Federation Council: Oversaw upper house’s vote to allow deployment of Russian forces abroad, paving way for invasion

VALERY GERASIMOV, 66
Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces: Responsible for Ukraine invasion. May now be side- lined due to slow start to campaign

SERGEI NARYSHKIN, 67
Director of Foreign Intelli- gence Service (SVR): Controls output of historical material – likely behind ideological grounds for invasion

VIKTOR ZOLOTOV, 68
Director of National Guard: Former Putin bodyguard with
no military training. In charge of president’s 400,000-strong personal army

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Sources: BBC, Wikipedia
Original pictures: Getty Images, Creative Commons
*Successor to Soviet Union’s KGB security agency © GRAPHIC NEWS