"I said from the beginning that I'm not going to stop. I decided that this is the work of my life."

"The scale of dissatisfaction is colossal. I have the impression that part of the system is already starting to work against Putin ... It's essentially ... similar to what happened at the end of the Soviet Union, when people hated the [Communist] Party and did everything for it to end. Putin's Russia will follow the same path as the Soviet Union. Everything is being repeated."

"A very big battle for power is going on. The FSB and the administration are very much in conflict. Putin does not have a single fist which only works for him. they are all working against each other."

Ilya Remeslo, Kremlin attack lawyer, propagandist 

 

"There is an absolutely clear conflict between the presidential administration and the second directorate of the FSB. These guys have gotten a lot of authority and have started tightening the screws very strongly."

"The presidential administration is trying to somehow let Putin know the lid could blow off the can."

"In Moscow, Khamenei's killing was seen as the Americans using internet technology for remote surveillance and since the Russian network is open for this type of remote surveillance they got worried."

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former Russian oil tycoon, leading Russian opposition figure

 

"Kiriyenko and  his team are trying to convince Putin that he can keep control of the situation in the country through political technologies."

"And the second service of the FSB is trying to convince Putin that the only way to stabilize the situation in the country is through brutal methods and through tightening the screws."

Anonymous insider

 

"Everywhere we can see chaos on management processes."

"Relations toward Putin are changing. Economic optimism and the everyday patriotism connected to it are disappearing."

"Finally, the impossibility of winning a war -- which has changed and reduced Russia's advantages to a minimum -- is recognized."

"It's as if the content of the air has changed in Russia."

Alexander Baunov, political analyst, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

In recent months, Russia’s Federal Protective Service, which guards top officials, has sharply tightened security around Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Alexander Kazakov/AFP/Getty Images

 

The deteriorating Russian economy, and repressive restrictions including limits on internet access are heralding cracks within the Russian elite over Putin's war against Ukraine. A broad division is being scented in the upper echelons of Kremlin power. Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating fell to its lowest level yet in recent weeks since his 'special military operation' in Ukraine went into effect with a full-scale invasion. This, according to VCIOM, state-controlled polling firm. And other voices speaking against the government.

 

Moscow planned its annual Victory Day parade to be a more modest affair this year. It would not be the full-scale military extravaganza of previous years, but a fully scaled-down version. Caused by the fear of Ukraine targeting the event with Ukrainian drone attacks. Which was also cited as the reason for mandated internet rules bearing in mind that revelations hosted there have the potential of arming Ukraine with data better kept under wraps. The state of the economy lurks as another grating issue; a full-scale war and related sanctions matter.

Russia's Su-25 jet aircraft release smoke in the colours of the Russian state flag while flying towards the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower during a flypast rehearsal for a military parade, which marks the 81st anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in central Moscow, Russia, May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

 

An internal conflict is cited by Kremlin watchers between a faction in the Putin administration led by Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy Kremlin chief, and the Federal Security Service, of which Putin famously is  an alumni. The clampdown on internet access in the fear it could be used to target Putin and mobilize antigovernment opposition is a child of the security services, whereas the restrictions are viewed by some political advisers to Putin as the cause of antigovernment rage by digitalized Russian society.

 

In Russia "it is already impossible to ban something", a statement felt to refer to the internet rules, expressed by Sergei Novikov, head of the Kremlin department for social projects, at a conference on demographics. While drones, sent courtesy of Ukrainian counteroffensives reach deeper into Russian territory setting oil refineries and terminals on fire -- this week hitting a highrise building not far from the Kremlin, public anxiety is on the rise even as their president looks to increase his own personal security.

 

The Financial Times, CNN and the independent Russian investigative outlet IStories reported a European intelligence agency report that the FSO, Putin's Federal Protection Service has boosted security protocols around the presence n evident concern that the Russian president could be targeted in a drone attack. Not precluding by members of Russia's own disgruntled elite. Bringing to mind the tense situation that ensued in 2023 with the aborted mutiny led by Yevgeniy Rigozhin, late leader of the Wagner mercenaries.

 

Security checks have been tightened by the FSO on Putin visitors. Staff working around Vladimir Putin may no longer use mobile phones or any devices connected to the internet. They are banned from using public transport as well, according to the European intelligence report. Mr. Putin has taken increasingly to administering Russia's affairs from a remote system of underground bunkers. Putin's security fears have led to the periodic shutdown of communications systems in Moscow. No doubt the assassination of senor Russian General Fanil Sarvarov gave Putin heart palpitations, when security measures failed.

 

The new measures followed the assassination of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, most likely by Ukraine.   Anastasia Barashkova/Reuters

 

"I understood that this is not the president I voted for. It's not a person who is brave or courageous. It's a completely different person who just fears a real opponent who represents a threat to him." 

"It was necessary to try and stop him. It was necessary to speak against him. I decided that if I do it other people would see and it would lead other people to speak too. Because I know that people around me -- people from the administration -- they think exactly the same."

"In the administration there are good people. They snicker at Putin and say he is very primitive and that he is doing everything to lead the country into an abyss."

"Of course, publicly they are scared to say this. Because of course they will be put in jail and all their assets will be taken."

"Putin will be toppled at some moment by his own circle when he stops being convenient for them completely. This is the result that is awaiting him." 

Ilya Remeslo 

A portrait of a soldier from the "Taifun" unmanned aerial vehicle unit holding a new model 'Marsianin' attack drone in Ukraine. (Getty)