Vladimir Putin’s top aide hacked by Ukranian group, revealing darkest secrets of the Russian state…including what REALLY went on in Crimea

At this time, he acted as Putin’s hand behind-the-scenes, managing some of Russia’s most crucial – and secretive – activities.

These included the country’s controversial involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.

The ongoing war has so far claimed the lives for more than 10,000 people – including the 298 passengers and crew of Malaysian Airways flight MH17, which was shot down by a separatist missile in July 2014.

Russia has long been accused of directly supporting rebels in the country’s eastern region, sending troops and equipment across the border to take on the Ukrainian army.

Putin has always denied such activity – including when mysterious masked troops with no insignia on their uniforms marched into Crimea in March 2014 shortly before it was officially annexed by Russia.

But the leaked files reveal evidence of Russian involvement at the very highest levels from the outset of the conflict.

Published emails included casualty lists from high-ranking separatist commanders in the Donbass region, as well as candidates for sham elections there.

One message marks certain names on a list with asterisks – just days before those very people were “elected” by the people.

A US official told NBC the leak confirmed previous American claims that Putin’s government was behind the separatists all along.

The US denies involvement in the email hack – just days after threatening a retaliatory cyber attack as revenge for Russia’s alleged hacking of US companies and political groups.

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