Federal Security Service

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) is the main security agency of Russia. It is the main agency that came after the Soviet Union's KGB. The FSB began in 1995 when another agency called the Federal Counterintelligence Service (FSK) was reorganized.

The FSB works mostly inside Russia. Its main jobs are to keep the country safe from spies, protect borders, stop terrorism, watch for dangerous activities, and solve serious crimes. The FSB is based in Lubyanka Square in Moscow, using the old KGB building. The leader of the FSB is chosen by and reports directly to the president of Russia.

In 2003, the FSB got more jobs. It took over the Border Guard Service and part of the Federal Agency of Government Communication and Information (FAPSI). This means the FSB now does some jobs that were once done by a part of the KGB. These jobs include watching in countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union. Another agency, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), had agreed not to spy in those countries, but the FSB did not make that promise.

History

Initial recognition of the KGB

The Federal Security Service (FSB) is one of the groups that came after the Soviet Committee of State Security, known as the KGB. After an attempted change in government in 1991, in which some KGB leaders were involved, the KGB was broken up and stopped existing by November 1991.

In December 1991, two new groups were made under the Russian president: the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and the Federal Agency of Government Communications and Information (FAPSI). In January 1992, another group, the Ministry of Security, took over jobs inside the country and at the borders. After a big change in the government's rules in 1993, the Ministry of Security became the Federal Counter-Intelligence Service (FSK).

Creation of the FSB

In 1995, the FSK was renamed and reorganized into the Federal Security Service (FSB) by a law signed by the president on April 3, 1995. More changes were made by a special order signed by Boris Yeltsin on June 23, 1995. These changes gave the FSB more powers and made the job of the FSB director clearer. The number of people helping the director grew to eight. Yeltsin chose Colonel-General Mikhail Ivanovich Barsukov to be the new director of the FSB. In 1998, Yeltsin chose Vladimir Putin, a former KGB member, to lead the FSB. Putin made big changes, removing many top leaders of the FSB. He chose Nikolai Patrushev to be the head of the FSB in 1999.

Role in the Second Chechen War

After the main fighting in the Second Chechen War ended, the job of leading the forces in Chechnya moved from the army to the FSB in January 2001. The army did not have the tools to track enemy groups, but the FSB struggled because it did not have enough people to help them. In the fall of 2002, separatist groups started big attacks on Russian people, including an attack at a theater in Moscow. Because the federal forces could not stop these attacks well, the job of keeping order in Chechnya was moved from the FSB to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in July 2003.

Putin reforms

After becoming president, Vladimir Putin made big changes to the FSB. First, the FSB was put under the direct control of the president by a order on May 17, 2000. The inside structure of the FSB was changed by another order on June 17, 2000. The new structure had a director, a first deputy director, and nine other deputy directors.

In 2003, the FSB's jobs were made much bigger. The Border Guard Service of Russia, with 210,000 workers, was added to the FSB by an order on March 11, 2003. This joining was finished by July 1, 2003. Also, the Federal Agency of Government Communication and Information (FAPSI) was closed, and the FSB took over many of its jobs, while some went to the Ministry of Defense. Reasons for these changes included the need for more security after terror attacks on Russian people, ending fights between the FSB, FAPSI, and the Border Guards because of overlapping jobs, and needing to better handle migration, drug trading, and illegal gun trading. Also, because Putin was the new president, making the FSB stronger helped him.

On June 28, 2004, Putin talked to FSB leaders about three main jobs of the agency: stopping foreign spying, protecting the country's money and economic safety, and fighting organized crime. In September 2006, the FSB went through big changes in leaders. These changes were thought to be linked to a big problem that had been growing since 2000. Some experts thought these changes were meant to weaken the influence of FSB Director Nikolay Patrushev, because many of his team from the Karelian KGB group were affected, and he was on vacation during these events.

By 2008, the FSB had one Director, two First Deputy Directors, and five Deputy Directors. It had nine main parts:

1. Counter-Espionage
2. Service for Defense of Constitutional Order and Fight against Terrorism
3. Border Service
4. Economic Security Service
5. Current Information and International Links
6. Organizational and Personnel Service
7. Monitoring Department
8. Scientific and Technical Service
9. Organizational Security Service

Counterterrorist operations

Starting with a big event in Moscow in 2002, Russia faced more terror attacks. FSB special teams, Alpha Group and Vympel, helped in saving people during attacks, but many people still died. In 2006, the FSB killed Shamil Basayev, who was behind the Beslan school attack and other big terror acts. The FSB said they planned this for six months and were able to track Basayev by watching where guns were being sent. Basayev and other fighters were getting ready to do another attack when FSB agents stopped them; 12 fighters were killed.

During the last years of Vladimir Putin's first time as president (2006–2008), terror attacks in Russia went down, from 257 in 2005 to 48 in 2007. A military expert praised Russia's security groups, saying that what they learned in Chechnya and Dagestan helped a lot. In 2008, an American magazine called Russia "the worst place to be a terrorist" because Russia put national safety before people's rights. By 2010, Russian forces led by the FSB had stopped most of the Chechen rebellion leaders, except for Dokka Umarov.

Increased terrorism and expansion of the FSB's powers

From 2009, terror attacks in Russia went up again, especially with suicide attacks. Between February 2005 and August 2008, no civilians were killed in such attacks. In 2008, at least 17 were killed, and in 2009 the number went up to 45.

In March 2010, militant groups organized attacks on the Moscow Metro, killing 40 people. One of the explosions happened at Lubyanka station, close to the FSB's headquarters. Militant leader Doku Umarov took responsibility for the attacks.

In July 2010, President Dmitry Medvedev gave the FSB more powers to fight terrorism. FSB officers could now warn people about actions that could lead to crimes and arrest people for 15 days if they did not follow lawful orders from officers. This law was strongly criticized by groups that work for human rights.

Role in Ukraine

Since 2014, the FSB has used many resources to get ready for Russia to take over Ukraine. Even though Russia's SVR and GRU (foreign and military intelligence groups) were also involved, the FSB led the efforts on "intelligence and influence operations".

The FSB's Fifth Service, also called the "Department for Operational Information" and "Operational Information and International Relations Service," is said by the BBC and Radio Free Europe to handle counterintelligence in areas that used to be part of the Soviet Union, work that the KGB's Fifth Service used to do. Its Ninth Directorate of the Fifth Service focuses on Ukraine. Putin was persuaded to invade Ukraine by a small group of his closest advisors, especially Nikolai Patrushev, Yury Kovalchuk, and Alexander Bortnikov. Some experts say Bortnikov played a big role in Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

Since the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian counterintelligence has said that the FSB had problems with keeping information safe, including some people not following orders and possible sabotage. In March 2022, Russia's secret communication system in Ukraine stopped working after the Russian military destroyed cell towers; unsecret phone calls from the FSB in Ukraine to leaders in Moscow about the death of Vitaly Gerasimov were heard and made public. Ukrainian intelligence said that FSB members were giving them secret information, including where Chechen commandos sent to attack Zelensky were. In late March, Ukrainian intelligence put online the names, addresses, phone numbers, and more of 620 people they said were FSB agents. None of these reports have been confirmed by the FSB.

Media in Ukraine, its allies in the West, and Russian critics report that Vladimir Putin has blamed problems in the fighting on the FSB and the Fifth Service. On March 11, 2022, a reporter said that Fifth Service leader Sergey Beseda and his deputy, Anatoly Bolyukh, were under house arrest because Putin was unhappy with bad information about the invasion of Ukraine. A U.S. official called this report "believable."

On April 11, 2022, a British newspaper said that Beseda was moved to Lefortovo Prison, where many people were punished during a strict time in Russia's history. The same report says that over 100 FSB agents from the Fifth Service were fired. The newspaper also reports that it is thought that the Fifth Service is now led by Beseda's former helper, Grigory Grishaev.

An article in the April 11, 2022, issue of The Washington Post says:

Several current and former officials described the Russian security service as rife with corruption, beset by bureaucratic bloat and ultimately out of touch. A Ukrainian intelligence official said the FSB had spent millions recruiting a network of pro-Russian collaborators who ultimately told Putin and his top advisers, among them the current FSB director, what they wanted to hear.

Some letters said to be from FSB analysts, made public after the invasion began, talk about the same kinds of problems. For example: "You have to write the analysis in a way that makes Russia the winner ... otherwise you get questioned for not doing good work."

Russian-American ballet dancer Ksenia Karelina was arrested in early 2024 in Yekaterinburg and charged with "treason" for sending $51.80 to a New York City-based group that sends help to Ukraine. The FSB said Karelina was taking part in "public actions to support the Kyiv regime." She could have faced life in prison, but she said she was guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

In August 2024, a "counter-terrorism" rule was started by the FSB in Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod Oblasts. This means that movement can be stopped, vehicles can be taken, phone calls can be watched, areas can be made off-limits, checkpoints can be put up, and security can be made stronger at important places.

Function

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia works to keep the country safe. Its main jobs are to stop spies, fight terrorism, and protect borders.

The FSB has caught many spies from other countries trying to get secret information. They also work to stop terrorist plans, like stopping a big attack in Moscow one year. The FSB helps protect Russia's borders, which are very long and reach many countries.

The FSB also watches for people trying to steal important technology or information. They use special tools to keep an eye on online activity to make sure no one is trying to do bad things to Russia or its people.

Organization

Director

Since 2008, the director of the FSB has been General Alexander Bortnikov.

First deputy director

The current first deputy director of the FSB is Sergei Korolev. He was appointed by Russian president Vladimir Putin on 24 February 2021.

Head of scientific and technical service

As of 2022, Eduard Chernovoltsev was listed the Head of scientific and technical service of the FSB.

Regional structure

Below the nationwide level, the FSB has regional offices in all the federal subjects of Russia. It also has administrations in the armed forces and other military institutions. Sub-departments exist for areas such as aviation, special training centers, forensic expertise, military medicine, etc.

Structure of the Federal Office (incomplete):

• Counterintelligence Service (Department)

  • Directorate for the Counterintelligence Support of Strategic Facilities
  • Military Counterintelligence Directorate

• Service (Department) for Protection of the Constitutional System and the Fight against Terrorism

  • Directorate for Terrorism and Political Extremism Control

• Economic Security Service (Department)

• Operational Information and International Relations Service (Analysis, Forecasting, and Strategic Planning Department)

• Organizational and Personnel Service (Department)

• Department for Activity Provision

• Border Guard Service

• Control Service

  • Inspection Directorate
  • Internal Security Directorate

• Science and Engineering Service (Department)

• Center of Information Security

• Investigation Directorate

Besides the services (departments) and directorates of the federal office, the territorial directorates of FSB in the federal subjects are also subordinate to it.

Directors of the FSB

On 20 June 1996, Boris Yeltsin dismissed Director of FSB Mikhail Barsukov and appointed Nikolay Kovalyov as acting Director and later Director of the FSB. Aleksander Bortnikov took over on 12 May 2008.

• Nikolai Golushko, December 1993 – February 1994
• Sergei Stepashin, February 1994 – June 1995
• Mikhail Barsukov, July 1995 – June 1996
• Nikolay Kovalyov, July 1996 – July 1998
• Vladimir Putin, July 1998 – August 1999
• Nikolay Patrushev, August 1999 – 12 May 2008
• Alexander Bortnikov, 12 May 2008 – present

Criticism

The FSB has faced criticism for actions related to corruption, human rights violations, and secret police activities. Some critics, like Alexander Litvinenko, have said the FSB tries to stop people from speaking out against the government. Litvinenko passed away in 2006 after being poisoned with polonium.

Some people have claimed the FSB was involved in the 1999 apartment bombings in Moscow to gain support for war in Chechnya and to help Vladimir Putin’s popularity. The FSB has also been criticized for not stopping certain types of serious crimes well enough.

After Russia took control of Crimea, the FSB was accused of treating people badly, including Crimean Tatar activists. There have been reports of people being hurt during questioning.

Despite efforts to fight corruption, FSB workers have been linked to many scandals involving dishonest business deals and corruption. Some say the FSB is not as effective as it used to be, with problems like corruption and too much paperwork.

In 2016, the White House said the FSB helped spread false information during the 2016 US presidential election. In 2020, an investigation linked FSB agents to making an opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, ill during a flight.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were reports of FSB workers treating people harshly in Mariupol.

Role in the Russian doping scandal

Main articles: Doping in Russia and McLaren Report

After a film showed that some Russian athletes were using banned substances, an investigation found that the FSB may have been involved in hiding the truth. Reports said FSB workers visited a laboratory often and might have watched staff members.

In 2016, the head of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory shared details about a plan to hide positive test results. This led to Russia being banned from some international sports events, including the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Crocus City Hall attack

See also: Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine § Involvement in the Crocus City Hall attack

On 22 March 2024, an attack happened at a concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Russia. Four attackers used guns and fire to hurt many people. The group behind it said they were responsible. The FSB suggested another country was involved but did not show proof.

Ukrainian invasion of the Kursk Oblast

See also: August 2024 Kursk Oblast incursion

In August 2024, Ukrainian forces moved into Kursk Oblast during the ongoing conflict. The FSB is in charge of guarding Russia’s borders, but many of the guards were new and not well-prepared.

FSB detention centers

In July 2025, laws changed to let the FSB again run its own detention centers. Some worry this could lead to more strict control and unfair treatment of people accused of certain crimes.