US EditionPutin Retreating to Bunkers Amid Coup and Drone Fears, EU Intelligence Reports Claim
A European intelligence report says the Kremlin has expanded surveillance, screening and bunker use as officials fear assassinations, drone attacks and an internal plot.
- The Kremlin has dramatically increased personal security around President Vladimir Putin, installing surveillance systems in staffers' homes and restricting their movements, according to a European intelligence report obtained by CNN.
- Heightened security follows the December 22, 2025, assassination of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, while Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory have intensified Kremlin fears of assassination and potential coups.
- Personnel close to the president face strict controls, including bans on public transport and mobile phones, while Putin spends extended periods in modernized bunkers in the Krasnodar region with pre-recorded footage used for public appearances.
- Following the March 5 arrest of Ruslan Tsalikov, a former deputy to Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, the Federal Protective Service expanded protection to 10 additional senior military commanders, intensifying elite tensions.
- Long-Range strike drones targeted Moscow on May 4, with debris landing roughly 3.7 miles from the Kremlin, underscoring threats as the war enters its fourth year and potentially straining military command effectiveness.
130 Articles
130 Articles
Service reports from a European country tell a Putin more and more focused on war - and more and more fearful of a coup d'état. Zelensky: "We will act according to what the Russians will do"
Putin's fears of coup ramp up amid Russia's backslide in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin is dialling up his personal security to unseen levels, amid rising fears of an assassination attempt or a coup, according to a European intelligence report.The report, leaked to several global media outlets including CNN, paints a picture of rising paranoia in the Kremlin, as the gruelling war in Ukraine takes an ever-greater toll on Russia.CNN, which published an examination of the report, said it claimed the …
The Kremlin shows nervousness. Fear of a plot provokes extreme security measures. Sergei Shoigu, former Russian Defense Minister, suspected of organizing a coup d’état. More information: Dearlove, former British spy: “The threat to the Spanish company is real. Russian intelligence is capable of attacking in Europe.”
Security around Vladimir Putin has been tightened dramatically in recent months. According to a leaked spy report, he often hides in a bunker and fears for his life.
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