Russia's offensives in Ukraine have led inevitably to a closing of ranks around Russian president Vladimir Putin. The Russian president, who is already attended by a small inner circle of loyal aides - the siloviki (IO, 23/11/21), is also tightly surrounded by his bodyguards, who belong to a corps which has lost none of its prestige at the Kremlin. The FSO, which is in charge of security in the broad sense, is responsible for the Kremlin compound and special communications, as well as the protection