In Kremlin Guards, the author offers readers a rare opportunity to look inside the Moscow Kremlin and learn the fates of the commanders of its Security Service during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin, the transfer of power to Vladimir Putin, and the rise of a new ruling clan known as the “Petersburgers.”
Former insider Valery Morozov, who worked for more than twenty years as chief designer and general contractor on Kremlin projects—including presidential and patriarchal residences and Security Service facilities—provides an unprecedented first-hand account of the Kremlin’s security elite. These officers are carefully selected and trained in traditions rooted in the era of the Muscovite Tsardom.
The book reveals the real story of Vladimir Putin’s rise to power, the inner life of the Kremlin, and the world of secret services responsible for the safety of Russia’s leaders. Morozov describes clan warfare within the special services, their ties to oligarchs, and the emergence of a new post-Soviet political elite. Drawing on decades of trusted relationships with Kremlin security commanders, he shows how these men perceived the collapse of the USSR, Yeltsin’s rule, the consolidation of Putin’s power, and the growing influence of corruption.
Part One focuses on Colonel Mikhail Firsov, Deputy Commandant of the Kremlin, who began his career guarding Leonid Brezhnev and later oversaw Kremlin security during the Soviet collapse and beyond. Morozov recounts little-known episodes of Kremlin life, attempted intrusions, the return of the Patriarch’s residence, and the evolving relationship between security chiefs, politicians, and oligarchs.
Part Two presents, for the first time, a detailed and authentic account of Putin’s ascent—from his early work in St. Petersburg to his selection as Yeltsin’s successor. This story is told not only from Morozov’s perspective but also through the testimonies of senior Kremlin Security Service leaders.
Part Three explores the struggle between the old Kremlin elite—the “Muscovites”—and Putin’s “Petersburgers.” Morozov describes his own involvement while leading major Kremlin reconstruction projects and his resistance to systemic corruption, including legal action against the Kremlin and the initiation of high-level investigations.
Kremlin Guards is both a memoir and a penetrating analysis of Russia’s transformation after the Soviet collapse. Blending personal stories with political insight, the book exposes the hidden mechanisms of power and the true scale of post-Soviet corruption. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand modern Russian politics and the forces shaping power behind the Kremlin walls.
- Publication date: December 27, 2025
- Language: English (for Russian edition — click here)
- Category: History
- Copyright: All rights reserved
- Author: Valery Morozov
- Format: EPUB
