The investigative outlet Dossier published a report on the Russian president’s Special Strategic Communications Service, known as Service K. According to the journalists, its officers constantly accompany Vladimir Putin and senior military commanders while carrying the terminals commonly referred to as the “nuclear briefcase.”
The report says the unit is tied to the automated Kazbek system, while its mobile terminal, Cheget, is designed for secure communication and for transmitting an order in the event of a decision to launch a nuclear strike. The officers not only carry the briefcases but also operate them; there are usually at least two officers nearby, one with the main set and the other with a backup.
Dossier writes that Service K teams are drawn from personnel at the command posts of the Strategic Missile Forces, primarily from Vlasikha near Moscow, where the main control center is located. The journalists said they relied on open-source data, leaks, and internal documents obtained from a source close to the unit, and that they verified the documents’ authenticity.
By the investigators’ count, at least 53 people had been linked to the secret service since at least 2021, including Major General Alexander Bulanov, three captains first rank, and 35 colonels. According to Dossier, the unit is commanded by Colonel Andrey Zhuravlev. Earlier, Proekt named two officers who, at least until 2019, carried the briefcase for Putin: Dmitry Shumeyko and Vladimir Poleshchuk.
The outlet notes that many of the officers live in Vlasikha, hold the highest level of state-secrecy clearance, and must coordinate any travel, yet some of them actively use social media. Journalists found officers’ profiles on VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Moi Mir, and Facebook, as well as Google Maps reviews posted under their real names.
The article also describes the Perimeter system, also known as the “Dead Hand.” Dossier explains that if communication with the command is lost, it is meant to pass a signal to launch platforms through special command missiles. At the same time, former military expert Vladimir Dvorkin said Russia has no system that would automatically launch a retaliatory strike without a decision by the top leadership.
“He trains regularly and conscientiously. As do Shoigu and Gerasimov. They conduct training missile launches and strike mock targets,” said Valentin Golubkov, one of the developers of Kazbek.