Is there a breach in Kremlin security? Russia claimed to have shot down two drones sent by the Ukrainian army in the grounds of the Senate Palace, the official place of residence of Vladimir Putin, this Wednesday, May 3, an accusation firmly denied by Kiev.
This is the first time that a strike attributed to Ukraine has taken place in the center of Moscow, located 500 kilometers from the border between the two countries. But many experts and specialists doubt the Russian version, even going so far as to attribute the attack to Russia itself, in an escalation strategy. The Russian authorities have indeed announced that they have reinforced the defenses around the Kremlin last year, in response to threats of Ukrainian strikes.
A locked place
Generally speaking, the Kremlin has come under increased scrutiny since the start of the invasion of Ukraine last February. The huge fortress covers 28 hectares, right in the heart of the Russian capital. Wedged between Red Square and the Moskva River, which gave the city its name, the huge complex contains four Orthodox cathedrals and eight palaces. Alternately the residence of the Tsars and the seat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, it now houses the most important elements of the Russian administration.
Despite the strategic importance of the place, several Kremlin buildings are still accessible to the public. For example, you can visit the Palace of Armor, the largest museum in the country, dedicated to the history of Russia. The place is nevertheless locked down by the FSO, the Federal Protective Service. This body, made up of 50,000 men, is responsible for defending Russian personalities and senior officials.
Impossible, therefore, to know what is really happening behind the walls of the Kremlin. Even using new technologies. Jammers are installed everywhere around the fortress. When you approach it, you are automatically geolocated in an airport located about thirty kilometers from the city. A method that has the gift of exasperating taxi users, who see their bills climb without understanding the reason.
ceremonial residence
The enormous fortress located in the center of Moscow attracts attention because of its status as the main residence of Vladimir Putin, but the Russian leader has other points of fall. He often travels between the Kremlin and his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, about thirty kilometers from Moscow. “I spend a lot of time there. I work there, and I often spend the night there,” he said in an interview given to the Russian press at the end of March, on the sidelines of a visit by the Chinese president. Xi Jinping.
According to New York Times, which quotes Gleb Karakulov, former FSO defector captain, Vladimir Putin would have several offices decorated in an identical way, in several places scattered throughout the city. A ploy allowing him to always cast doubt on his true location. As often, the Russian president cultivates secrecy.