Conflict Has Erupted Between The Russian General Staff, FSB And Rosgvardia
- 4.05.2026, 9:20
Putin had to intervene.
Attempts on high-ranking Russian officers in the rear have led to a conflict between representatives of the Russian security services. This is reported by Vazhnye Istorii, citing an intelligence report from an EU country, which the publication received from a source.
The report was given to a number of media outlets: CNN, FT and Russian Vazhnye Istorii.
According to the document, in December 2025, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, FSB director Alexander Bortnikov and Rosgvardia chief Viktor Zolotov quarreled at a security meeting. They had to be calmed down by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Gerasimov, Bortnikov and Zolotov shifted responsibility for the security system's shortcomings onto each other. Gerasimov sharply rebuked the security services for failing to anticipate assassination attempts. The chief of the General Staff also complained about the lack of human resources for the physical protection of officers in the rear. Bortnikov, for his part, justified himself by emphasizing the impossibility of systematic prevention of attacks. He rebuked the Russian defense minister for the absence of a special unit in his department that would deal with the physical protection of top leaders - following the example of other security agencies.
Zolotov also reminded that the resources at his disposal cannot be allocated to the protection of defense ministry officers. He also addressed Gerasimov's recommendations on operational security for Defense Ministry officers, which drew the ire of the chief of the General Staff.
After the altercation, Putin ordered the Federal Security Service to protect Gerasimov and ten other high-ranking Defense Ministry officers.
On February 6, an unknown assailant in Moscow tried to shoot Russian Defense Ministry Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev. He survived, but was in intensive care in serious condition.
The Russian Investigative Committee accused the Ukrainian Security Service of the assassination attempt and announced the arrest of two suspects who allegedly pleaded guilty.
Ukraine denied involvement in the assassination attempt on the Russian lieutenant general, saying it had nothing to do with it.
The Washington Post wrote that Russia could be involved in the attempt on the general's life - particularly because of his role in quelling the Evgeny Prigozhin riot.