Vladimir Putin’s Stunning Rebuke of Russian Security Services
Russian leader Vladimir Putin (72) has sparked widespread attention with his unprecedented criticism of Russia’s security services during his annual TV marathon ahead of the New Year.
In a striking rebuke, the Russian president accused the security agencies of allowing attacks on military personnel, journalists, and civil society figures to happen. He insisted that the recent assassination of Russian military intelligence (GRU) general Igor Kirillov in Moscow, blamed on Ukraine, is not an isolated incident.
Putin said that such attacks are a sign of the "terrorist nature" of the Kyiv regime. His remarkable allegations come as he, himself, is a product of the Russian security services.
Expert Reaction
International relations expert and author Stig Fredrikson told VG that Putin’s criticism is surprising and significant. "Putin is himself a product of the security services, so it’s unusual for him to criticize them," Fredrikson said.
Inna Sangadzhieva, a Russian herself and head of the Russia group at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, echoed this sentiment. She said Putin’s annual TV marathon is typically a platform for him to present a distorted reality and bolster his image.
Putin’s Isolation
Sangadzhieva noted that Putin’s lengthy TV appearance, lasting over four hours, was filled with lies and a primitive worldview reminiscent of the Cold War era. She believes Putin’s performance demonstrates his growing isolation from the Russian people’s reality, with the country currently engaged in a bloody war with ongoing human casualties.
Watch: Zelenskyy’s Latest Video Claiming Presence of North Korean Troops
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video on his Telegram channel this week, supposedly showing North Korean troops supporting Russian forces at the frontlines. Neither North Korean nor Russian authorities have confirmed or denied the report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
