Russia is reportedly tightening security around state TV propagandists, assigning National Guard protection to executives and hosts

Russian authorities have tightened security around state television executives and hosts following Ukrainian attacks on Russian military personnel and propagandists, sources told the independent Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo.

Viktor Zolotov, head of the Russian National Guard, advised the management of one national television network to arrange security, an employee at the network said. According to this person, the National Guard now escorts “practically all the TV bosses.” Not everyone welcomes the arrangement. Along with protection, the guards bring constant surveillance.

TV hosts have received the same recommendation. One arrived at his birthday celebration in Moscow with a security car in tow, according to an anonymous guest at the party.

A third source told Agentstvo that National Guard security personnel had already been assigned to escort television executives before this, but confirmed that the measures have since been stepped up.

According to the outlet, an enhanced security detail of FSO officers also escorts Ilya Medvedev, son of Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.

Security for propagandists began tightening as early as the first months of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, according to Agentstvo, though at the time only the best-known television employees were assigned guards.

In late August, Vladimir Putin raised the FSO’s staff at the central office to 812 people — the fourth such increase since the war began.