Security around Russian President Vladimir Putin has been drastically increased. According to a European intelligence report seen by CNN, the Kremlin increasingly fears attacks and even a possible coup. The measures go so far that the private lives of Putin’s closest associates are also under strict surveillance.
For example, surveillance systems are said to have been installed in the homes of some confidants. Cooks, bodyguards and photographers who work for the president are also no longer allowed to travel on public transport. From now on, Putin’s visitors will be screened twice, while employees in his immediate vicinity will only be allowed to use telephones without an internet connection.
The new security measures came after a series of murders of senior Russian officers. The death of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov in December in particular caused great panic within the Russian top. According to the report, that incident led to a major row between military leaders and the security services.
Putin himself is said to have decided to greatly expand his personal security. Ten top commanders also received extra protection.
Where is Putin?
Furthermore, the number of places where Putin still appears has been drastically reduced. He and his family would even avoid their usual residences around Moscow and in Valdai for the time being.
Striking: the Russian president has not yet visited a single military complex this year, while he did so regularly in 2025. To conceal this, the Kremlin would sometimes distribute pre-recorded images, according to the report.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Putin has also regularly stayed for weeks in heavily secured and modernized bunkers, including in the Krasnodar region on the Black Sea, according to the report.
Fear of coup
The most striking detail from the report: the name of former defense minister Sergey Shoigu. He is mentioned by European intelligence as a possible factor in a coup, because he still has a lot of influence within the Russian army.
The recent arrest of his former right-hand man, Ruslan Tsalikov, on suspicion of corruption would further increase tensions within the elite.
War weighs heavily
Nervousness in Moscow is also growing due to the war in Ukraine. Western estimates point to around 30,000 Russian deaths and injuries per month. At the same time, the loss of territory remains limited, while Ukrainian drones are increasingly striking deep into Russia. Last weekend, a luxury apartment building in Moscow was even hit by a drone.
The war is also starting to have an economic impact. Disruptions in mobile networks and other security measures are causing increasing frustration, even among wealthy, pro-Putin city dwellers. The Kremlin itself has not commented on the report for the time being.
