A series of assassinations and attempted assassinations targeting senior Russian military officials has exposed growing fissures within President Vladimir Putin's security apparatus, according to intelligence sources and analysts.
At least 15 Russian generals have been confirmed killed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. These deaths, occurring both near the front lines and within Russia, are reportedly fueling internal friction between the Russian military and the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the Soviet KGB.
"There are internal frictions between Russian security institutions," a European intelligence source told Fox News Digital. "The Russian military wants the FSB to guarantee physical protection for Russian generals, but the FSB is opposed to taking responsibility for the military."
This dispute is seen as a reflection of a deeper, long-standing rivalry where security services have historically held a privileged position over the armed forces in Russia. "The security services do not like the military, and the military does not like the security services," the intelligence source added.
Pattern of Fatal Attacks
Recent incidents underscore the trend. In June, Lt. Gen. Damir Davydov, a Defense Ministry official responsible for supplying munitions to forces in Ukraine, was killed in an explosives-laden BMW in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha. This occurred about 1,150 feet from where Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy chief of the Main Operations Directorate of Russia's General Staff, was killed in a car bombing in April 2025.
In late 2024, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection troops, was killed by a bomb hidden in an electric scooter outside his Moscow apartment building. A source within Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told Reuters the agency carried out that operation.
Other high-ranking officers have met similar fates. Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov, deputy commander of Russia’s Southern Military District, was killed in July 2023 by a Ukrainian missile strike in Berdiansk. Maj. Gen. Sergei Goryachev, chief of staff of the 35th Combined Arms Army, died during Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region in June 2023.
Internal Power Dynamics
Analysts suggest that the war has elevated the military's importance on the battlefield, but the political structure in Moscow remains wary of generals potentially challenging its authority. "The army, on the other hand, has always been viewed by these people as a threat," said Russian opposition figure Maxim Katz. "Since Stalin, they have been afraid of the army."
Katz explained that the FSB, being the dominant security organization and originating from Putin's own career path, tends to view the military with suspicion. "The Ukrainian army kills a general once in a while. The FSB puts generals in prison much faster," Katz stated, suggesting this dynamic might lead generals to prefer not to have the FSB responsible for their personal security.
Even during wartime, the military is kept politically subordinate, with generals lacking the political influence or wealth of ministers or FSB officials. "The army does not take part in decision-making. It is funded now, but everything goes to the war," Katz noted.
The European intelligence source indicated that the perceived compromise involves the security service of the Russian presidential administration taking over the protection of generals, an arrangement that shifts responsibility away from the FSB, which reportedly did not want to handle military protection.
Morale and Perception
Beyond the operational losses, the deaths of prominent generals can impact morale within the Russian army, which is already considered low from the Russian perspective. The internal strife and perceived lack of adequate protection could further exacerbate these issues.
The political implications are also being considered, particularly with upcoming parliamentary elections. Katz suggested that a failure to maintain the perception of broad public support, especially if election results are perceived as heavily manipulated, could present a new challenge for Putin's regime.