Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly on high alert amid growing concerns of a potential military coup following the arrest of former First Deputy Defence Minister Ruslan Tsalikov.
The move has sent fears through Moscow, where mobile internet in the city center has been disrupted for more than a week without explanation, fueling speculation about unrest within the Kremlin.
Tsalikov’s arrest last week marked the latest development in a prolonged corruption investigation tied to the 2014 construction of Russia’s National Defence Control Centre. Investigators allege that Tsalikov and his family amassed wealth totaling over 4 billion rubles, prompting authorities to take decisive action.
The arrest appears to have struck at the heart of Russia’s Ministry of Defence, exposing tensions that may extend to the highest levels of the security establishment.
Tsalikov’s detention, a close ally of former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, has intensified scrutiny of Shoigu himself. Shoigu, who was dismissed in 2024 amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the ongoing war in Ukraine, has long maintained a close relationship with Putin.
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Moscow residents and businesses have reported significant disruptions to mobile and internet services. Local network operators, including VimpelCom and T2, insist that the outages are not due to technical failures on their part, suggesting instead that the government imposed restrictions.
The blackout has affected several key areas, including locations housing the Presidential Administration, the Security Council, and FSB operational units. Authorities have offered no public explanation for the extended outage.
Similar shutdowns were witnessed during the Wagner Group rebellion in 2023, a period that highlighted the potential fragility of Russia’s internal security when factions within the military or intelligence community challenge central authority.
Reports indicate that Tsalikov was not transferred to the high-security Lefortovo prison, as might have been expected, and was instead placed under house arrest. This has led to speculation that Russian authorities may be navigating delicate internal power dynamics, possibly attempting to avoid provoking further instability.
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Adding to the unease, Putin has not visited any military command posts this year, a departure from his usual routine, which included frequent oversight visits. This may reflect both growing internal anxieties and the president’s frustration with the stalled war effort in Ukraine.
Putin’s cautious behavior, combined with the unprecedented communications blackout, indicates deep concern about potential threats from within rather than from external military action.
While unconfirmed reports of a coup remain speculative, the combination of high-profile arrests, internet restrictions, and unusual presidential inactivity has created an atmosphere of uncertainty in Moscow.
