Russia has admitted to stepping up protection for Vladimir Putin before Saturday's military parade, blaming threats from Ukraine for the heightened measures.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that additional security protocols were being implemented "given the rather complex operational situation against the backdrop of the terrorist threat posed by the Kyiv regime."
However, an unnamed European intelligence agency has raised concerns about an internal coup potentially linked to former defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
Mr Peskov declined to address the coup speculation.
He instead compared the measures to the standard protection afforded to world leaders.
He said: "With regard to the head of the Russian state, appropriate measures are taken to ensure his security."
The European spy agency's assessment, reported by Important Stories, paints a picture of a Russian president gripped by paranoia about threats from within his own circle.
The report said: "Since the beginning of March 2026, the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin have been concerned about a leak of sensitive information and, at the same time, about the risk of a plot or coup attempt against the Russian president."
Russia has admitted to stepping up protection for Vladimir Putin before Saturday's military parade
|REUTERS
Putin has reportedly stopped visiting his preferred residences, including properties in the Moscow region and Valdai, over concerns they could be targeted by drone attacks orchestrated by members of Russia's political elite.
"In particular, he fears the use of drones for a possible assassination attempt by members of the Russian political elite," according to the intelligence assessment.
The Federal Protective Service has dramatically intensified its protocols around the Russian leader, according to the report.
Visitors entering the Presidential Administration now face two separate screening processes.
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Putin has reportedly stopped visiting his preferred residences
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This includes comprehensive physical searches conducted by FSO personnel.
The agency has also drastically curtailed the number of locations where Putin appears, with neither the president nor his family frequenting their traditional residences.
Putin resides with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 42, and their two sons, Ivan, 11, and Vladimir, six, who go by the surname Spiridonov.
The intelligence assessment alleges that since the Ukraine conflict began, Putin has frequently retreated to refurbished underground facilities in the Krasnodar region, sometimes remaining there for weeks while Russian media broadcasts pre-recorded material.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refrained from repeating earlier threats to deploy military drones during Saturday's parade
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The Krasnodar region, which faces regular Ukrainian drone attacks, houses Putin's £1billion clifftop Gelendzhik palace, a sprawling complex with multiple subterranean levels that has drawn comparisons to a Bond villain's headquarters.
Mr Shoigu, who served as defence minister during the early years of the Ukraine war before becoming security council secretary, has been linked to coup concerns since March.
Efforts to undermine his position appeared evident last month, when his former deputy, Ruslan Tsalikov, was detained on corruption allegations involving family assets worth approximately £50million.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refrained from repeating earlier threats to deploy military drones during Saturday's parade but confirmed Ukraine would continue striking Russia with long-range missiles and drones while hostilities persist.
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