Cracks in the Kremlin: Elite Infighting Escalates Amid War
Russian President Vladimir Putin waits for the arrival of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko before their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Pool
There are growing signs in Russia that serious conflicts are brewing within the government. One of the former Kremlin associates, Ilya Remeslo, has openly spoken out against Vladimir Putin and declared that he will not remain silent.
The Washington Post writes about this.
Remeslo had long worked for the Kremlin system, attacking the opposition and collaborating with the presidential administration. But in March, he suddenly changed his position and publicly called on Putin to resign, calling him a war criminal.
After that, he was forcibly sent to a psychiatric hospital in St. Petersburg. However, he was released a month later, which seems atypical for Russia.
After leaving, Remeslo stated that he would remain in the country and continue to speak out against Putin.
According to him, great discontent has accumulated within the Russian leadership due to the war against Ukraine, economic problems, and increased restrictions, particularly on the Internet.
He claims that parts of the system are already working against each other and that a struggle for influence is ongoing between the Kremlin administration and the security forces, particularly the FSB.
Opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky also believes that Remesl’s release may indicate support from some of the Kremlin elites.
Against this background, Russia is tightening security measures around Putin – restricting access to communications and movement for his entourage.
Remeslo himself believes that at some point, his closest circle may become the cause of changes in power.
Earlier, it was reported that Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to European intelligence, has increased personal security measures and significantly reduced his movements due to fears of a coup or assassination attempt. The report also mentions conflicts among Russian security forces amid attacks in Ukraine and internal tensions in Russia.
Recall that with the coming to power of Vladimir Putin, Russia has turned into a totalitarian state, and the dictator himself is increasingly wary of losing control over the country. Experts note that the fear of a coup indicates the weakness of his regime.
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