The Kremlin is ramping up efforts to kill Russian opponents in Europe, according to a new report.
Citing European officials, the Associated Press claimed that authorities across different countries have spotted attempts to kill dissidents.
They include episodes in France, Lithuania, Poland and Germany. In the latter country, officials broke up two such plots: one against the head of a local weapons company supplying Ukraine and another one against an Ukrainian military officials.
Elsewhere, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected was killed in Spain in 2024. While the people behind it were not identified, Moscow operatives are believed to be the main suspects.
European officials said the Kremlin has ramped up its efforts since invading Ukraine in 2022, and have lately become more brazen in their choice of targets. "There is political authorization," an European intelligence official told the outlet.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in turn, told the outlet he didn't see "any need" to comment on the story.
At the same time, another report detailed that the Kremlin has beefed up security around Russian President Vladimir Putin amid fears of a coup, as well as the assassination of top military figures.
Citing a report from a European intelligence agency, CNN detailed that measures include installing surveillance systems in the homes of staffers and preventing people working with the president from using public transport. Some working more closely with Putin can only use phones without internet access.
The report went on to detail that some of the measures were implemented after the killing of a top general in December. Putin is visiting fewer places, and is no longer going to some of his residences. He has not visited military facilities so far in 2026, in contrast with regular trips last year, and the Kremlin is releasing pre-recorded images of him.
"Kremlin and Vladimir Putin himself have been concerned about potential leaks of sensitive information, as well as the risk of a plot or coup attempt targeting the Russian president. He is particularly wary of the use of drones for a possible assassination attempt by members of the Russian political elite," reads a passage of the report.
It specifically mentions former defense minister and current secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, who is "is associated with the risk of a coup, as he retains significant influence within the military high command."
The document adds that the arrest of his former deputy Ruslan Tsalikov in early March was considered "a breach of the tacit protection agreements among elites, weakening Shoigu and increasing the likelihood that he himself could become the target of a judicial investigation." Tsalikov was accused of embezzlement, money laundering and bribery.
