Kremlin tightens security around Putin amid assassination fears, coup concerns — report
The Kremlin has significantly increased security around President Vladimir Putin, installing surveillance systems in the homes of close staff and introducing stricter movement and communication controls, according to a European intelligence report obtained by CNN.
The report said cooks, bodyguards, and photographers working with Putin are banned from using public transport, while visitors to the Kremlin leader are subjected to double screening. It added that officials working closely with him are restricted to phones without internet access.
It also noted that security measures were introduced in recent months following the killing of a senior Russian general in December, which triggered tensions within Russia’s security establishment and raised concerns about internal stability.
According to the dossier, more than six attacks have been recorded along key corridors, prompting authorities to limit the number of locations Putin now visits. It stated that he and his family have stopped going to several regular residences, including properties in the Moscow region and Valdai.
The report added that Putin has not visited any military facility this year and now spends extended periods in secured bunkers outside Moscow, with pre-recorded footage sometimes released to the public in place of live appearances.
It further claimed that concerns over internal security have intensified since March 2026, with fears of leaks, assassination attempts, and possible coup plotting within elements of Russia’s political elite.
The intelligence document also pointed to former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as a figure of concern, suggesting he remains influential within military circles, though it did not provide evidence of any coup-related activity.
It linked recent arrests within the defence establishment to widening mistrust among Russian elites and growing tensions over accountability within the military hierarchy.
The report also referenced past internal disputes among top Russian security officials following the assassination of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov in December 2025, which reportedly triggered a high-level emergency meeting chaired by Putin.
It claimed that during the meeting, senior military officials clashed over responsibility for security lapses, leading to expanded protective coverage for several top commanders.
The Kremlin has not formally responded to the claims in the report.
Credit: CNN
