Vladimir Putin is reportedly spending his nights in the Kremlin due to security concerns. The 73-year-old Russian president has implemented a mobile internet blackout in Moscow for almost two weeks over fears that his extensive surveillance network, including the city’s CCTV systems, may have been compromised.
Sources from the Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, known for its ties to security services, revealed that Putin has been increasingly staying in the Kremlin, including overnight stays. Additionally, restrictions on the use of Telegram have been enforced on the Ukrainian frontlines, angering soldiers who relied on the app for communication after Elon Musk cut off Starlink satellite internet access to Russian forces but not to the Ukrainian military.
Recent reports indicate that Putin has been holding secretive meetings in the Kremlin, undisclosed to the public, as revealed by VChK-OGPU. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Anna Ukolova warned of consequences for any country displaying hostility towards Israel, highlighting the capabilities demonstrated by Israel’s military forces in recent conflicts.
In response, Kremlin ideologist Alexander Dugin disputed Ukolova’s statements, suggesting that Israel could potentially target Putin using surveillance technology. Heightened security measures have been observed at the Kremlin, with Federal Security Service officers and electronic warfare systems deployed to prevent potential threats, amid concerns of an assassination attempt.
Moscow has experienced mobile internet shutdowns since early March, expanding to cover the city and other regions. Russian authorities claim these restrictions are in response to security threats from Ukrainian drones, although industry experts suspect they may also be part of plans to limit access to the global internet for Russian citizens.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended the mobile internet shutdown as legally sound and necessary for citizen security. The Kremlin’s censorship extends to major social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, initiated after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Additionally, messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram have faced restrictions, while a national messenger app named MAX has been promoted, drawing criticism as a potential surveillance tool.
