Vladimir Putin is preparing to enlarge the central office of the Federal Protective Service once again. If the draft decree takes effect, this will be the fourth expansion of the body since the start of the war in Ukraine and the first such decision in nearly 13 years to be made in the middle of the year rather than at the beginning or end.
According to Verstka, the draft decree has been published on the portal for draft legal acts. The document is expected to come into force on July 1.
Under the proposal, the maximum number of military and civilian personnel in the FSO central office would increase from 785 to 812 people.
Since the war began, the staffing level of this structure has already been revised four times. At the end of 2022, Putin raised the cap from 725 to 760. Then in January 2024, he approved two more increases: to 775 as of January 1, 2024, and to 785 as of January 1, 2025.
Before the war in Ukraine, the FSO central office had not been expanded for almost 13 years, the report says.
The Federal Protective Service is a closed security agency responsible for protecting the country’s top officials. Its structure includes the unit in charge of Vladimir Putin’s personal security; its officers accompany him on trips and guard facilities and residences linked to him.
In addition to physical protection, the FSO handles secure communications, conducts sociological polling, and monitors public opinion and the political situation. After the start of the war, the agency’s role grew, and its постоянный access to Putin and information about senior officials turned it into an independent center of influence, according to Important Stories.