Russian intelligence services evolved into political pillars under Putin

Russian investigative journalist and security expert Andrei Soldatov describes how the country's intelligence services have evolved from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the present day. Under Vladimir Putin, the security apparatus has transitioned from the chaotic post-Soviet era into a fundamental pillar of political power.

Following the era of Boris Yeltsin, during which the KGB's successors faced instability, corruption, and the challenges of the First Chechen War, the FSB (formed from the FSBK in 1995) underwent significant structural and functional changes. Soldatov notes that Putin has clearly defined a direction for the FSB, integrating the services deeply into the state's political and operational framework.