Britain's intelligence agency reveals what is behind the creation of a special security service in Moscow at the behest of the Kremlin

The Security Forces of the Government of Moscow, the security service for the Russian capital, which President Vladimir Putin approved in November 2022, is one example of the long-standing Russian tradition of "paramilitarization." The project allows Muscovites to voluntarily perform patriotic duties while avoiding service on the front line in Ukraine.

This is stated in the UK military intelligence's report released on January 4. The agency noted that since July 2023, the Service has become more paramilitary, including obtaining permission to use firearms.

Presumably, several thousand recruits out of the planned 15,000 have been recruited to the service.

This is another example of the long-standing Russian tradition of "paramilitarization", the increase in the number of armed organizations outside the regular army, British intelligence noted.

However, the Service was most likely partially reinforced due to concerns about the readiness of Moscow's local security forces "in the face of an offensive by rebel Wagner troops in June 2023," the report said.

"The project also provides Muscovites with the opportunity to voluntarily perform 'patriotic' wartime duties while avoiding service on the front line in Ukraine," the British intelligence service said.

They also noted that Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin was able to limit the direct impact of the war against Ukraine on the relatively wealthy population of the Russian capital. Most of the Russian casualties in Ukraine are from the poorest provincial regions, the agency said.

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