Overview
- Russian outlet Vazhnye Istorii cites an unnamed EU intelligence report that says Vladimir Putin fears a drone attack planned by members of Russia’s elite, with the claims relayed by Ukrainska Pravda and other media.
- The Federal Protective Service, which guards top officials, has reportedly tightened protection with extra screening of visitors, curtailed travel, and a shorter list of sites the president visits.
- An active FSB officer told the outlet that surveillance gear was reassigned to watch government bodies, which he said has slowed approvals for routine criminal investigations.
- The report links rising coup risk to former defense minister Sergei Shoigu’s circle after the March arrest of his longtime deputy Ruslan Tsalikov, a move portrayed as weakening Shoigu.
- Caution around the May 9 Victory Day events shows up in two signals: no State Duma deputies reportedly received parade invitations, and the Kremlin floated a unilateral ceasefire that Ukraine’s president said would shield the festivities.