Putin was afraid of Prigozhin's rebellion: how a dictator is trying to prevent the overthrow of the regime

British intelligence spoke about the role of the special security service/Collage 24 Channel< p _ngcontent-sc90 class="news-annotation">The British Ministry of Defense published an intelligence review on January 4, in which it spoke about the role of a special “security” structure. It was created by the Moscow authorities, on the instructions of the Kremlin. The Russian dictator is probably trying to protect Moscow with new military structures.

Back in November 2022, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin granted powers to the Moscow authorities to create a special security force to protect the capital's metro. Later it received the name “departmental security of the Moscow government.”

Defense forces are being built up in the Kremlin

British intelligence reports that since July 2023, this structure began to acquire the features of a paramilitary organization. In particular, she received permission to use firearms. They plan to attract 15 thousand people to it, of which several thousand have probably already been added.

Experts note that this is another example of the Russian tradition of creating paramilitary structures separate from regular army.

Analysts also suggest that the impetus for strengthening the “departmental security” was fears of the readiness of the security forces in Moscow after the unsuccessful rebellion of the leader of the Wagner PPK, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The project is also an opportunity for Muscovites to volunteer for patriotic duties in wartime, while avoiding being sent to the front lines in Ukraine. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has so far successfully limited the direct impact of the conflict on the capital’s relatively well-lived residents, intelligence officials said.

As the department noted, the majority of Russians making up Russian statistics losses in Ukraine come from poorer provincial regions.

What is known about the Prigozhin rebellion

• Prigozhin stated on June 23, 2023 that a missile attack was carried out on the rear of the Wagner PPK by the Russian armed forces. He turned to Shoigu and Gerasimov. He asked who will answer “for the genocide of the Russian people.” According to Prigozhin, the so-called council of commanders of the Wagner PPK made a decision: “the evil carried out by the military leadership of Russia must be stopped.”
• Subsequently, the Atesh movement reported, that the Russian Guard was sent to intercept the Wagnerites. Almost in the very center of Rostov, armored personnel carriers were spotted. According to preliminary information, it was ordered to bring units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard to full combat readiness.
• In almost a day, the Wagnerites managed to establish control over Rostov-on-Don, Voronezh, and also by several roads leading to Moscow.
• Later, a number of Russian media reported that the Wagner PPK mercenaries were preparing to leave the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don . Prigozhin accepted the proposal of the self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and ended the rebellion.