A VChK-OGPU source described the "career" of Readovka founder and former editor-in-chief Alexey Kostylev, which ended in prison. The initial 15 million rubles from the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation turned into billions from the Ministry of Defense. But then his "curators" imposed "debts" and confiscated the publications to pay them off, promising immunity. And, of course, they deceived him.
According to the source, Readovka and Kostylev's life changed radically after he met Vladimir Tabak, head of the Dialog NGO (a structure affiliated with the Presidential Administration). Tabak considered Readovka's nationalist "agenda" extremely promising and began literally leading Kostylev by the hand through the offices of the Presidential Administration. As a result, the Presidential Administration soon began allocating 15 million rubles a month to Kostylev's publication. Next came Kostylev's project to create "large-family villages," which received state grants, including a presidential one. Land for the project was simply "squeezed out," and luxury cottages began to appear on some of it. Then came billion-dollar contracts with the Ministry of Defense for the supply of Chinese drones. The flow of money was endless; Kostylev himself, his handlers, and his entourage didn't even count it.
By 2024, Kostylev, according to a source, had completely developed "star fever": he was rude to almost everyone, telling them to get lost, even to highly influential people. Alexey considered himself and Readovka an indispensable element of state propaganda during the war. The Dialogue nonprofit organization believed he was spiraling out of control.
And in October 2024, Kostylev was involved in a strange accident. He was found under an overturned ATV; he couldn't remember what happened afterwards. Kostylev suffered a serious head injury and was in a coma. He underwent a craniotomy and a metal plate. Kostylev recovered in his village of Rukhan, where he was brought various documents to sign, including the very same 1 billion-ruble contract with the Ministry of Defense for the supply of drones that ultimately led to his arrest.
In the summer of 2025, visitors brought other documents for him to sign, requiring him to transfer all his publications to individuals controlled by the ANO Dialog. According to a source, Kostylev was told that his organizations were in enormous debt, including under the contract with the Ministry of Defense, and that if he didn't transfer the publications, it would all end in criminal charges. Kostylev parted ways with Readovka. Incidentally, almost simultaneously, ANO Dialog acquired the publication Ura.ru, whose owners had been targeted by security forces.
And already in September 2025, a criminal case was opened regarding the embezzlement of funds allocated for the purchase of drones. Most of Kostylev's former circle (they remained working at Readovka) testified against him, and in February, Alexey was arrested.
However, such "high-level relationships" are the norm, and for the circles Kostylev joined, the outcome of this "successful collaboration" comes as no surprise.
