Following re-election of Vladimir Putin as Russian president, he addressed the Federal Security Service (FSB), the principal successor to the Soviet-era KGB, in Moscow on urging “traitors” to be hunted down.
Putin demanded that the “traitors” be found and punished, speaking in a visibly agitated tone. “We will punish them without time limitation, wherever they may be.”
Russia would never forget these traitors who had committed crimes against the country, he declared.
There have been several reports of Russians being murdered, some while overseas, others dying in mysterious circumstances.
In a speech at the FSB spy service’s annual meeting at the Lubyanka in central Moscow, Putin referred specifically to attacks mounted from Ukraine on the Belgorod region along the border, where there have recently been civilian casualties.
Intensive attacks took place in the region during the elections between Friday and Sunday.
Putin referred to terrorism aimed at disrupting the vote. He accused “sabotage and terrorist groups” of acting alongside Ukrainian forces, mercenaries and other “rabble”. The latter could refer to Russian citizens who have gone over to the Ukrainian side.
The Russian president also called on the FSB to join forces with other intelligence services in intensifying counterterrorist work.
In addition to other responsibilities, the FSB is in charge of protecting Russia’s borders.
Putin also urged the FSB to assist Russian enterprises in circumventing Western sanctions and expanding their influence into new global markets.
In an attempt to wreck the Russian economy and force Putin to shift course, the West slapped what it claims are the strongest ever sanctions on Russia shortly after the Kremlin authorized the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Putin, on the other hand, claims that despite the sanctions, Russia’s wartime economy has thrived, with artillery shell production considerably exceeding that of the West and the Russian economy expanding by 3.6% last year.
