Putin fears a possible assassination attempt by the Russian elite and a coup d'état
A number of international and Russian media outlets have published reports citing an alleged leak of a report by an unnamed European intelligence service, which refers to concerns held by the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin regarding potential leaks of confidential information and the risk of internal threats, according to the Express.
According to the published data, the Russian president is reportedly particularly wary of the possible use of drones in an assassination attempt by members of the political elite. The document states that such fears have existed since March 2026.
The reports have prompted mixed reactions among experts and observers of Russia. Some of them consider the scenario of a coup d’état unlikely and view the dissemination of this information as part of an information campaign targeting the Russian political system. Others do not rule out the existence of internal risks for the country’s leadership.
The materials pay particular attention to Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council. The report, cited by the media, claims that he retains significant influence among the senior military command.
Russian investigative journalist Roman Anin stated that for many years, Sergei Shoigu has led an influential group of people formed during his time in government posts. At the same time, the reports note that no evidence has been provided to support the claims regarding a possible threat from Shoigu.
The reports also recall the events of 2023, when Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group, made an unsuccessful attempt at a mutiny and a march on Moscow.
According to the reports, security measures around the Russian president may have been tightened in recent months. In particular, there are reports of the installation of additional surveillance systems and the introduction of stricter rules for staff working in the vicinity of the head of state.
It is also claimed that Vladimir Putin has reduced the number of places he visits regularly, notably spending less time at some of his residences near Moscow and in Valdai.
The reports note that the Russian president has not yet visited any military facilities this year, although he made such trips regularly in 2025.
The authors of the reports point out that Western intelligence services rarely publish detailed information about internal processes in other countries, especially if it may come from sensitive sources. At the same time, no official explanation has been given as to why this report has been made publicly available.
