Putin orders FSB to step up protection for Russian Defence Ministry and defence industry officials

- 24 February, 16:10
Putin. Screenshot from video on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has instructed the FSB to strengthen protection for senior officials of Russia's Ministry of Defence and the defence-industrial base, as well as representatives of state and municipal authorities.

Source: Putin speaking at a meeting of the FSB board, as quoted by Russian media

Quote: "This fully applies as well to opinion leaders, journalists and volunteers who are constantly under threat from the Kyiv regime."

Details: In particular, Putin referred to an explosion at the Savyolovo railway station in Moscow on the night of 23-24 February, where a Russian police vehicle was blown up.

He said that the explosion was the result of recruitment via the internet: "They planted an explosive device on a person and then detonated both him and the intended target remotely."

Putin also said that "serious additional measures be taken to protect the state border" of Russia.

Background:

  • Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were nearly derailed following an assassination attempt on Vladimir Alexeyev, First Deputy Head of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). Russian officials are reportedly seeking a "Ukrainian connection".
  • Alexeyev, who was the target of an assassination attempt in Moscow on 6 February, was the senior Russian representative at the negotiations in Mariupol in May 2022 during the withdrawal of the Mariupol garrison from Azovstal.

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