Leaked Kremlin chats reveal Putin’s paranoia over Navy Day flop and Kazakhstan rebuke
Hacked messages between Dmitry Peskov and Mikhail Babich expose Kremlin criticism of the cancelled Navy Day parade and a televised challenge from Kazakhstan’s president, underscoring Putin’s growing insecurity.
A cache of hacked Kremlin communications, obtained by the group Black8Mirror and reported by Agentstvo, depicts a tense dialogue between longtime spokesman Dmitry Peskov and fellow official Mikhail Babich. The pair argue over the decision to scrap the traditional Navy Day parade in July, which would have displayed 200 warships on the Neva River, in favor of a modest televised event that drew ridicule. Babich also demanded explanations for a surprising on-air rebuke from the president of Kazakhstan, who called on Putin to halt the war in Ukraine, questioning whether the remark was scripted.
Peskov’s replies, citing safety concerns, underscore the president’s heightened fear of drone strikes and his retreat into fortified bunkers. The leaks align with earlier reports that Putin is expanding the Federal Protective Service and scapegoating staff after a series of high-ranking officer deaths. The revelations come as Donald Trump has invited Putin to the upcoming G20 summit in Florida, though the Russian leader has not attended since 2019.
Why it matters
The leaks reveal internal Kremlin turmoil and Putin's insecurity, affecting Russia's political stability and foreign relations.
In this story
