Vladimir Putin has admitted to failing his mission to secure the illegally annexed regions of Ukraine as he ordered his ruthless security apparatus scour Russia for enemies.
In a sinister address, he ordered counterintelligence forces to root out “traitors, spies and saboteurs”.
Putin made a rare admission of failure, accepting he had not succeeded in fully controlling invaded regions of Ukraine that he now claims are Russian.
He admitted the security situation in areas of Ukraine that he annexed in September is “extremely difficult” - an acceptance that he has failed to tame these regions.
The despot told his security operatives: “The situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, [and] in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is extremely difficult.
“But the people living there, the citizens of Russia, rely on you, on your protection.
“And it is your duty to do everything necessary to maximise their safety, respect for their rights and freedoms.
“For our part, we will continue to strengthen new units with modern equipment and weapons, as well as experienced personnel.”
He spoke amid rising speculation that he will impose a new vast wave of mobilisation in mid-January to forcibly recruit yet more Russians for his bludgeoning army and its war in Ukraine.
One week earlier this would be preceded by a ban on reservist Russian men of military age fleeing abroad, predicted General SVR Telegram channel.
Putin “has big military plans” for February and March “and is preparing for them”, alleged the Russian opposition channel.
“Mobilisation activities will continue on January 16, 2023 [and] the closure of borders for the mobilisation human reserve will be introduced from January 9, 2023”, it forecast, based on purported sources in the regime.
Putin will use his security agencies to force recruits into the military - and prevent them fleeing abroad as many did after his first wave of mobilisation in September, it was claimed.
The Russian dictator used the December 20 ‘Security Agencies Worker’s Day’ to warn his spies and counterintelligence operatives that they face the toughest challenges of their lives.
He appears paranoid that foreign agents lurk around every corner - and demands they be rounded up.
"Today’s rapidly changing global situation and the emergence of new threats and challenges impose high demands on the entire system of Russia’s security agencies,” he told his domestic and foreign agents.
“This means that you need to significantly improve your work in key areas, and use your operational, technical and personnel potential to the fullest.”
In his video address he told them: “Maximum readiness and concentration is now required from counterintelligence agencies, including the military ones.
“It is necessary to strictly stop the actions of foreign special services, and promptly identify traitors, spies and saboteurs.
"The work of the FSB Border Guard Service must be strengthened."
These are the men and women securing his frontiers - who may be tasked with halting the outflow of those of military age seeking to avoid a new draft.
He spoke after an alleged Ukrainian spy Evgeny Petrushin, 23, was jailed for 12 years after being accused of “high treason” for “gathering and supplying information about the activity of the Russian Black Sea Fleet”.
A video shows him being manhandled by the FSB after he was detained in his flat in naval port Sevastopol in annexed Crimea.
He passed it to Ukraine using the Signal app, it was claimed.
He operated in Sevastopol, and was formerly a naval cadet.
His job at the time of his arrest in 2021 was not disclosed but he was convicted by a civilian not military court.
The FSB, Russia’s domestic security service, said he had acted “on the orders” of Ukrainian military intelligence starting in 2020.
"Military counterintelligence officers of the Russian Federal Security Service [FSB] put an end to Petrushin’s spying,” said a statement.
