Intelligence Report: Kremlin Building Police State - Grants FSB Increased Powers

The Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service has publicly disclosed information that suggests the Kremlin is actively engaged in the creation of a police state. According to intelligence data, Russia is no longer concealing its intentions and is openly demonstrating that it is expanding the powers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) across all fronts.

As reported by the intelligence agency, the FSB's powers have been expanded at least five times in the first quarter of 2023 alone, a figure that significantly surpasses the total expansions seen in the previous two years combined. The FSB now possesses virtually unlimited authority that encompasses various sectors, including science, finance, telecommunications, freedom of movement, and the physical detention of individuals.

Specifically, since February 2023, the Russian security service has been granted the right to unilaterally disconnect citizens' communication and internet access. Such actions have already been documented in several districts of Moscow, and this has been normalized as a standard practice. The disconnection of communication has become a common occurrence, raising serious concerns among the population.

In March 2023, Moscow introduced so-called 'white lists' of resources that remain accessible during mobile internet outages. The FSB determines which websites can remain available to users, indicating a significant level of control over the information space.

Moreover, the FSB has been officially authorized to open its own investigative isolation facilities, although de facto such institutions have already existed. For instance, Lefortovo and Taganrog Detention Center No. 2, where captured Ukrainians are held, have never operated outside the control of the FSB. Now, these powers are formalized on paper, highlighting the growing influence of the security service over the justice system.

The informational perimeter is tightening from multiple angles. Scientific and educational institutions in Russia, both state and private, are required to submit plans for research involving foreign nationals or companies to a unified database. Operators of critical infrastructure are mandated to report cyberattack data to the FSB around the clock, further enhancing control over information security. The mandatory data retention period for platforms has been extended from one to three years, resulting in an increase in the volume of dossiers on citizens.

Since last year, Russian universities have been obligated to coordinate international contracts with the FSB, significantly limiting their autonomy. Additionally, in 2022, penalties were introduced for searching for 'knowingly extremist materials,' further constraining freedom of speech. Banks have been designated as 'information dissemination organizers' and are thus required to store and provide client correspondence upon the FSB's request.

In 2024, the FSB gained the right to participate in the selection of conscripts and process military personnel's personal data without consent, raising serious concerns about the protection of citizens' rights. There are no plans to halt the further expansion of the security service's powers. Currently, the FSB is preparing to control the import and export of any surveillance devices and software, blacklist specific gadgets' IMEI numbers, and assess Russian artificial intelligence models for their 'sovereignty,' meaning their suitability for use against their own citizens.

As previously reported, Russia has effectively completed the formation of a system whereby access to higher education for the majority of the population will be contingent upon military service. This indicates significant changes in society and state policy that could have far-reaching consequences for the country's future.

For more information and news, join our channels on Telegram, Instagram, and YouTube.