Putin so paranoid about security that ‘national guard’ is 5 times size of British Arm

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Putin so paranoid about security that ‘national guard’ is 5 times size of British Army
By: Chris Hughes - Defence and Security Editor 01-09-24
Re: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-...guard-31841551

Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has boosted the country's National Guard to 350,000, compared to the UK’s 73,000 troops and soldiers in Russia are also equipped with heavier weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is so worried about internal security that his ‘national guard’ force is 5x times the size of the British Army.

The “Rosgvardia” Russian National Guard has been boosted by ex-Wagner mercenaries to 350,000, compared to the UK’s 73,000 troops. Soldiers of the “Rosgvardia” are also equipped with heavier weapons and armour, unlike conventional forces across the Russian military. In the past year it is believed the force has been increased in size so another Wagner-style attempted coup can be thwarted quickly.

In June last year late Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin led a “march on Moscow” because he was furious with lack of support from defence bosses. In disgrace he went into exile along with other Wagner members in Belarus but a few months later he and some henchmen all died in a suspicious private jet crash.

Photo link: https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incomin...T-SECURITY.jpg
Servicemen of the Russian National Guard gather along the Manezhnaya Square just outside the Kremlin in Moscow ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

One former British intelligence source told the Daily Mirror: “The Rosgvardia has a kind of elite unit within it that is aimed at directly protecting Putin. And in some ways they are replacing Wagner Group which was once Putin’s loyal private army that he could always relay upon. But the achievements of Wagner in Ukraine led to Prigozhin becoming too big for his boots and Putin wanted him eliminated.

“The National Guard will ensure nothing like the so-called ‘march on Moscow’ happens again, during very trying times for Russia. Putin’s population are getting increasingly frustrated and very challenging times are coming because of the cost of the war in Ukraine.

“There are faltering living standards, increased cost of living, consequences of even deeper economic sanctions and impending public resistance to further military call-ups. I believe Putin has yet again created his own private army that can be used flexibly to stamp out any kind of insurrection.”

In a recent report published by the UK’s Ministry of Defence it was claimed the expansion of the Russian Guard force is due to “the upheaval in Russia’s internal security caused by the war in Ukraine.”
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Here's another post from Mirror news UK 01-07-24 (see below)
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Vladimir Putin TV propagandist found dead 'from poisoning' alongside her ex-husband
By: Will Stewart - Russia Correspondent 01-07-24
Re: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-...mpaign=organic

[Russian state TV company chief executive Kuban Zoya Konovalova, 48, has been found dead in her bedroom, with the corpse of her 52-year-old ex-husband Andrey Gubatiyka found close by]

A well-known executive in Vladimir Putin state-run propaganda TV empire has been found dead from “poisoning” alongside her ex-husband.

The corpse of Zoya Konovalova, 48, chief editor of Russian state TV company Kuban, operating in Krasnodar region close to the war zone, was discovered in her bedroom. Her 52-year-old former husband Andrey Gubatiyka's corpse was found close by.

“No visible injuries were found during the examination of the bodies,” said a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee, which is probing the deaths. The ex-couple had a daughter, 15, and an adult son. “The preliminary cause of death is poisoning by an unknown substance,” said a report by her channel.

A fragment of a polymer bag with a ‘powdery substance’ was found in the TV chief’s private house In Krasnodar city. Her colleagues and friends insisted today she would never have taken drugs.

The Kuban media outlet is part of the state-run giant All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company [VGTRK], a key prop in Putin’s propaganda empire.

The man and woman are believed to have been dead for at least 24 hours before their bodies were discovered. Their bodies were found by “law enforcement agencies”. The committee said: “When examining the bodies, no visible injuries were found.

*“The investigators are carrying out a set of verification measures aimed at establishing the circumstances and causes of the incident. Forensic medical examinations have been arranged.”

**[Dozens of mysterious deaths of prominent Russians have been reported since the start of Putin’s war with Ukraine. Ukraine is also believed to have carried out assassinations of cheerleaders for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.]**

Russia has previously claimed that Vladimir Solovyov, a top presenter and frothing propagandist at VGTRK, had been targeted by Ukraine in an assassination bid. The deputy director of VGTRK is Dmitry Kiselyov - another leading propagandist - who has said that Britain is “so small that one Sarmat missile is enough to drown it once and for all”. The Russian missile Sarmat [Satan-2], the world most powerful…is capable of … destroying an area the size of Texas or England.”

*Konovalova was influential as an editor in Krasnodar region, which lies across the Kerch Strait from annexed Crimea. Putin’s official Black Sea residence is in this region, as is his £3 billion cliff top palace at Gelendzhik. Krasnodar region has been targeted by Ukraine during the conflict.

Last month Ilya Kyva, 46, once a party leader in the Kyiv parliament, was found “covered in blood” in a suspected assassination near Moscow by Ukrainian secret services. He had become a Putin puppet who appeared on obedient state TV shows.

Last month the 35-year-old deputy editor-in-chief of Putin’s favourite newspaper was found dead in Moscow. Anna Tsareva’s body was discovered at her home in the Russian capital, with an investigation underway.

*Police opened an investigation into the death of the deputy editor of pro-Putin Komsomolskaya Pravda [KP], a high-flying Russian journalist. In September 2022,
her boss Vladimir Sungorkin, 68, editor-in-chief and director general of Komsomolskaya Pravda, died of a “heart attack” after showing signs of suffocation. His death has been seen as suspicious. He is often included among a list of dozens of untimely or mysterious deaths since the start of Putin’s war. Sungorkin fell unconscious on a tour of the Russian far east minutes after suggesting his group “find a beautiful place somewhere… for lunch.”
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Personal note: Putin has a way of eliminating his aggressors as do most of the
world's leaders today and yesterdays.
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As they say 'absolute power corrupts absolutely!
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World's most dangerous countries to visit in 2024 revealed in interactive map –
check your holidays.
Re: https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/worl...int_source=nba
By: ByAntony ThrowerNews Reporter - 12-20-23

Travellers deciding on where to visit in 2024 have been advised of the world’s most dangerous countries they may want to skip getting flights to.

A new interactive risk map produced by consultancy firm International SOS has shown areas across the globe where people are most likely to face trouble such as political unrest, violence, and crime. For the first time, the Risk Map also includes a layer which also outlines climate change risks.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the countries at the top of the list include the likes of war-torn Ukraine, Libya, South Sudan, Syria and Iraq, due to an “extreme” security risk. However, at the other end of the scale, people might want to go to Greenland or perhaps Norway, Finland, Iceland or Luxembourg where the risk is deemed insignificant.

Sally Llewellyn, Global Security Director, at International SOS said: “For the coming year, geopolitical tensions, unrest and political instability are expected to impact business operations. This is reflected in the map with the Sahel, parts of the Middle East and Ukraine in the ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ security risk category. International SOS continues to support organisations operating in these locations, including through providing verified information and advice on how such risks will affect their workforce or by supporting evacuations where needed.

Countries in the low risk category for security include the UK and most of Europe, the USA, Canada, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Medium risk nations include South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Kenya, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, the Philippines, Iran, Turkey and Russia.

Due to new and evolving conflicts, some of the most notable risk rating increases this year have been parts of Lebanon, Palestinian Territories and Russia. Ecuador and parts of Colombia have also increased following a consistent rise in criminality and unrest. In some regions, the risk rating has decreased including for El Salvador and parts of Nepal following sustained downward trends across a number of risk factors.

Comment by: Michael Rogers, Chief Security Analyst, at International SOS, said: The propensity for geo-political or socio-economic developments, natural hazards and other threats requires that travellers remain well informed and prepared for short-notice and sometimes high-impact disruptions. Organisations should emphasise the importance of pre-travel risk assessment as well as situational awareness for travelling employees to navigate travel risks effectively.

“It is also crucial for organisations to have clear communication protocols in place for reporting security incidents and ensuring that prompt assistance is readily available when needed. In the event of a significant incident, clear, wide-reaching proactive communication from security management covering the organisation’s response goes a long way toward appeasing anxieties and elucidating the next steps. By implementing proactive measures and fostering a culture of risk awareness, employers can empower their workforce to make informed decisions and enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.”

Top travel health and safety tips from International SOS for seamless travel during the festive period include staying informed and prepared and taking care among nativity crowds.
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Personal note: World travelers have fallen victim to many over-see's countries.
Make sure you contact your travel agency for possible unwanted mishaps before
booking your flights. And even that could still put you in a situation you didn't
foresee. Safety is your responsibility moreso than you may realize!!
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