The Russian military leadership has requested that the FSB provide protection for its generals following a surge in assassinations. According to reports from Fox News, the request highlights deepening institutional friction within the Russian state, as internal security forces remain reluctant to guard the military officers.
Why are Russian generals requesting FSB protection?
The request for increased security follows a series of lethal attacks on officials. On June 9, General Damir Davydov, a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Defense responsible for supplies of rockets and artillery ammunition to Russian units in Ukraine, was killed when an explosive device detonated under his BMW in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha. This incident occurred roughly one year after the assassination of General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the main operations directorate of the Russian General Staff, who was killed 330 meters away.
Fox News reports that at least 15 Russian generals have been confirmed killed since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While some deaths occurred near the battlefield, the targeted killings of officials like Davydov and Moskalik within the capital have prompted the military’s plea for domestic protection.
The tension between Russia’s military and its security services traces back to the Soviet era, where the two branches maintained a long-standing culture of mutual suspicion.
What is the source of the friction between the military and the FSB?
According to a source from the European intelligence community cited by Fox News, the FSB has resisted the request to secure military leadership. This resistance is rooted in a systemic, historical rivalry. In the current Russian political structure, President Vladimir Putin, who comes from the KGB, has prioritized the dominance of security services over the armed forces.
Russian opposition activist Maxim Katz noted that the Kremlin views the military as a potential threat. The precedent set by the late leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led an armed uprising and march on Moscow in June 2023, solidified this perception. Despite the military’s role in the war in Ukraine, the state maintains a system where generals are kept politically weak.
How does the Kremlin manage military influence?
While the war in Ukraine has increased the military’s importance, the political hierarchy continues to treat senior officers with caution. Katz explains that the military is excluded from political decision-making. Though individual generals may accrue wealth, they remain significantly less influential than ministers or officials within the FSB.
Furthermore, the Russian general staff is frequently targeted by corruption investigations, often initiated by intelligence agencies. These inquiries are often used to sideline commanders who are too popular. Katz suggests that for many in the Russian military hierarchy, the FSB may pose a more immediate danger than the Ukrainian armed forces, as the secret police are more likely to send a general to a penal colony than the battlefield is to result in their death.
FAQ
- Why is the FSB refusing to protect military generals? According to European intelligence sources, the refusal stems from deep-seated institutional distrust and a systemic preference for keeping the military politically weak.
- How many Russian generals have been killed during the war? Fox News reports that at least 15 Russian generals have been killed since the invasion of Ukraine began.
- What happened to Yevgeny Prigozhin? After leading an armed rebellion in June 2023, Prigozhin died in a private plane crash two months later.
Have thoughts on the shifting power dynamics within the Russian government? Share your perspective in the comments section below or subscribe to our newsletter for deep-dive analysis on global security trends.
