However much Western leaders inveigh against Russian disinformation (which, yes, is a real issue), we should never pretend this is not a two-way street. The sudden spate of news stories reporting that a conveniently anonymous “European intelligence agency” claims that the Kremlin fears a coup looks suspiciously more like a psy-op meant to generate paranoia in the Russian elite than a serious assessment.

The claim is that Putin’s personal security has been dramatically stepped up, not simply to protect him from increasingly frequent and far-ranging Ukrainian drone strikes but, in particular, because since the beginning of March, the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin himself have been concerned about the risk of a plot or coup attempt targeting the Russian President.

Specifically, it claims that Sergei Shoigu, defense minister until 2024 and now secretary of the country’s Security Council, “is associated with the risk of a coup, as he retains significant influence within the military high command.”

It is entirely plausible that security around the president has been stepped up, regardless of whether they think the threat plausible or likely

It is entirely plausible that security around the president has been stepped up, regardless of whether they think the threat plausible or likely

The aging Putin may indeed........

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