Kathrine Frich
Surveillance around the leader has reached new heights.
When power concentrates in the hands of a single ruler, trust becomes a rare luxury.
History shows that those who sit at the top often fear their own allies far more than any distant enemy.
That old anxiety appears to be making a quiet comeback inside the Kremlin.
Growing bodyguard army
Vladimir Putin has expanded his personal protection detail once again. According to Polish news agency WP, a new presidential decree raised the staffing limit at the Federal Protective Service headquarters to 812 personnel.
This marks the fourth time the agency has grown since the war in Ukraine began. Before the invasion, the unit had remained unchanged for nearly thirteen years.
The expansion reflects a growing obsession with physical security. Reports from the Financial Times revealed that security teams tightened protocol around Putin, while the Russian leader drastically reduced his visits to his famous resort dacha in Sochi.
Instead, he now relies heavily on underground bunkers and fortified facilities.
Shadows of history
Surveillance around the leader has reached new heights. Aides now face strict limits on phone usage near him, while internal intelligence services closely monitor his inner circle.
These precautions stem from a deep paranoia rooted in Russian history. From Emperor Paul I being strangled in his bedroom to Soviet leaders mysteriously dying, power shifts in Moscow often come from within.
The recent plane crash of mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and the prison death of opposition icon Alexei Navalny highlighted just how dangerous high-stakes rivalries can be.
Prigozhin showed that a trusted insider with troops can march toward Moscow within hours.
Fearing the inner circle
Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russian territory have certainly heightened the alarm. Yet the true danger to the Kremlin leader may not be flying overhead.
Putin built his regime on a delicate balance between rival security agencies, military leaders, and wealthy tycoons. For decades, he ensured no single faction could challenge his authority.
The war changed that dynamic completely. Generals and intelligence chiefs now hold unprecedented influence, money, and men.
And in a system built on total control, the men closest to the throne are often the ones to watch.
Sources: WP, Financial Times
