Russia intensifies domestic security crackdown and censorship

As the war in Ukraine continues, the Kremlin is intensifying its control over Russian society through expanded repression and increased censorship. Recent measures include frequent internet disruptions and strict new restrictions on social media platforms, marking a significant departure from the relatively moderate freedoms present in Russia prior to 2022.

This shift reflects a fundamental change in Russia's internal security doctrine. For much of Vladimir Putin's presidency, the state's security model focused on combating terrorism and extremism. However, the prolonged conflict in Ukraine has prompted the Kremlin to adopt a more aggressive strategy to suppress perceived opposition. This has resulted in the Federal Security Service (FSB) shifting its focus from counter-terrorism toward hunting for spies, utilizing Soviet-era tactics to target anyone viewed as a threat to the regime's power.