Putin is going after his own rocket scientists

At least a dozen Russian scientists who have worked on hypersonic missile development are reported to have been detained on suspicion of high treason, with many of the arrests taking place since President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Russian authorities arrested Vladislav Galkin, a physicist who has worked on Russia's hypersonic missile program since 2016, the acting chairperson of Sovetsky District Court of Novosibirsk, Elena Nefedova, told the local T-invariant publication on December 15. Novosibirsk is the largest city in Siberia, and one of the country's main science hubs.

The charge of high treason in Russia carries a jail term of between 12 and 20 years. The treason definition includes espionage, the issuance of state secrets to a foreign state or organization, and the provision of financial, logistical, consulting or other assistance, should the activities be directed against the security of Russia.