Russia Reform Monitor: No. 2035

January 5:

As economic conditions continue to deteriorate, the Kremlin is facing the possibility of growing grassroots protests. Despite the ongoing popularity of President Vladimir Putin, "there are gathering signs" that the Russian government "is preparing for a possible wave of unrest," Newsweek reports. The newsmagazine points to recent laws granting greater latitude to Russia's security forces, as well as new security procedures around government-funded installations, as signs that the Kremlin is bracing for mounting domestic discontent - and moving preemptively to stifle it.

In the latest example of his extensive personality cult, Russia's president has a new fragrance. TheWashington Post reports that a new perfume inspired by Vladimir Putin has hit shelves in Russia. The new scent is called "Leaders Number One" and costs considerably more than name brand competitors (like Dior).

January 6:

Days before Christmas, hackers attacked Ukraine's power grid, blacking out part of the country and leaving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power. Now, the Daily Beast reports that U.S. intelligence experts are looking at Russia as the possible culprit. While the U.S. government has stopped short of accusing Moscow of carrying out the hack, private sector experts say that the Kremlin's fingerprint is clear - and worrisome. According to John Hultquist of cybersecurity firm iSIGHT Partners, the Ukraine hack is a "milestone" because it represents the first documented case of cyberwarfare that knocked out power in a target area.

January 7:

Russia's global isolation is deepening. Trade paper Air Transport World reports that, as of November 2015, international traffic for Russian airlines had declined by nearly a third from a year prior.

January 8:

Russia is stepping up counter-terrorism measures in the country's capital, Newsweek reports. According to the newsmagazine, the Moscow City Council has approved the development of an "anti-terrorist" police bus designed to "identify attacks before they take place." The vehicle, which has a reported price tag of $500,000, is part of new security measures being activated by the Russian government over the next year.

Days after his untimely death, rumors are swirling about the circumstances surrounding the demise of Russia's military intelligence chief. Novaya Gazeta reports that the Kremlin has rejected claims leveled by global intelligence firm STRATFOR that GRU chief Igor Sergun, who died unexpectedly on January 3rd, was in Lebanon at the time of his death. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the suggestion is "not true at all." Russian officials have instead claimed that Sergun died outside Moscow from heart failure.

January 9:

Russia's military is investing heavily in drone warfare. According to the state-owned Sputnik News, the Russian armed forces have acquired more than 1,500 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past four years as part of the country's ongoing, multi-billion dollar military modernization program.