Vladimir Putin is back in hiding within the heavily fortified walls of the Kremlin, as mounting assassination fears and deep-seated paranoia keep the Russian President holed up in his Moscow stronghold. Reports on Telegram suggest the Russian leader has refused to venture outside the secure seat of power for at least a week, retreating into an increasingly isolated existence and relying almost entirely on a tightly vetted inner circle for face-to-face contact.
Official Meetings Behind Closed Doors
Despite refusing to leave the safety of the complex, official schedules reveal a flurry of high-level meetings conducted entirely behind closed doors inside the Kremlin complex. Over the past seven days, Putin’s physical movements have been strictly confined to deep inside official reception rooms, where he has hosted key domestic figures and foreign allies. Among those granted rare access was North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, who was pictured shaking hands with Putin before sitting down for talks at a large white oval conference table alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The Russian leader’s tightly controlled schedule has also focused heavily on state security and economic stability. Putin convened high-level consultations with members of his Security Council to address pressing defence and intelligence matters. Back-to-back briefings were held with Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin and Norilsk Nickel Chief Executive Officer Vladimir Potanin, alongside regional discussions with Aisen Nikolayev, the Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and Marat Kambolov, the Acting President of South Ossetia.
Unusually Sparse Public Records
Unusually for the Kremlin, no word-for-word speeches were placed online from the meetings, only brief paragraphs explaining the overall tone of the chats. For example, of his meeting with the DPRK representative, a spokesman said: "Vladimir Putin highly praised the bilateral relations between Russia and the DPRK and once again thanked the leadership and the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for their assistance in the special military operation. He stressed that the combat feats of the Korean servicemen, who helped the Russian military and were decorated with state awards, will always be remembered in Russia."
Visible Tension in Photographs
Photographs captured during these recent encounters depict a visibly tense President seated opposite officials at polished mahogany desks. In several images, Putin appears deeply absorbed, gesturing with his hands or staring intently across the table as advisers deliver their reports. The complete absence of public engagements outside Kremlin walls highlights a leader consumed by security precautions and an acute concern over potential threats to his safety, which shows no signs of easing. There were also talks of a coup in the Kremlin, with elections set for later this year, but that so far hasn't happened, and there are no signs of it either.
