Sex scandal rocks Kremlin: Putin aide flew 23-year-old lover around Russia on lavish military aircraft
Russian military plane
, usually reserved for high-ranking officials, to see a restricted military airbase in southern Russia, as per a report. The posts, which have since been removed, have led to various speculations.
Weekend Getaway or State-Sponsored Favour?
Maria Shalaeva
, a young woman from Yekaterinburg, surprised social media users when she casually shared photos and stories of flying aboard a Defense Ministry Ilyushin-76 military jet for what she called a "weekend getaway" to Rostov-on-Don, as per The Sun report. Her trip wasn't just luxury, it was exclusive, because the airport she flew to is reportedly shut off to all but military aircraft, according to the report.
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Who Is the Mysterious 'Kremlin Man'?
The trip wasn't diplomatic or commercial, it was for personal use, as Shalaeva suggested that her lover was a "Kremlin man," powerful enough to orchestrate a private military flight and treat her to appointments like a city manicure, as per The Sun.
The 23-year-old had posted asking, 'Who's saying planes don't fly to Rostov?" and then pointed out that, 'They do - just not all of them, and not for everyone. Anyway, I flew back to Rostov again. Can't seem to let it go,' as quoted by The Sun.
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She even revealed that her lover is 'a Kremlin man, though, that's another story. Reliability level is 200%,' as quoted in the report. According to an independent media outlet, Russian president Vladimir Putin's trusted defence minister,
Andrei Belousov
, is suspected to be her lover, reported The Sun.
The speculation arose as Belousov is known to be a known womaniser from earlier email leaks, and his photograph appears in a video she posted, and in one video her lover has grey hair, and so does Belousov, who was a Kremlin apparatchik before becoming defence minister, as reported by The Sun.
The Sun's military sources pointed out that the Kremlin's 'sugar daddy' had been visited at work by the secret services after the mistress's revelations, as per the report.
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Speculation Swirls About Child's Paternity
While, Shalaeva even shared that she brought her three-year-old son, Tim, on the trip, which led to speculation that the kid is her lover's offspring, reported The Sun. She had posted, 'At three years old, he's already flown in a military aircraft,' as per the report.
She said, 'Tim got to sit right in the cockpit and even grabbed some crisps from the pilot," adding, 'We were greeted warmly. Timmy was chilling, watching cartoons the whole ride,' as quoted by The Sun report.
No Confirmation, But Just Speculations
The mistress even gave a hint, saying that her lover was 'not military!! Not FSB either! Now, I know who he is, but I'm not allowed to say,' as quoted in the report.
According to the report, Belousov is an economist and civilian technocrat but is not a career soldier and holds no formal military rank, yet his authority rivals that of Russia's top generals.
Andrei Belousov's Reputation Under the Spotlight
While Nexta independent media claimed in its report that, 'In private posts, Shalaeva hints that it's Belousov himself, the new defence minister of the Russian Federation [who is her lover],' adding, 'The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation flies his mistress on a military plane,' as quoted in The Sun report.
FAQs
Who is Maria Shalaeva?
She's a 23-year-old woman from Yekaterinburg who posted about being flown on a Russian military jet, sparking the current scandal, as per The Sun report.
Why is Andrei Belousov suspected?
He's a high-ranking civilian official with the power to arrange such flights, matches the physical description, and reportedly appears in one of her videos.
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About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @ More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump russia-ukraine conflict Vladimir Putin Volodymyr Zelenskyy view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 14, 2025, 10:30 IST News explainers Trump's Ukraine U-Turn: How He Went From Courting Putin To Arming Kyiv Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
