Inside Putin's Toxic 'Little Town': A Former Guard's Revelation

A former guard at one of President Vladimir Putin's luxury palaces in Crimea has described a toxic working environment where colleagues compete for power and everyone is a security officer. Vitaly Brizhaty, who left Russia's Federal Protective Service earlier this year, revealed that every word spoken could be used against you, and a culture of snitching on others was prevalent. Brizhaty also expressed disgust at the stark contrast between the lavish lifestyle of the government and the struggles of ordinary Russians. He eventually resigned due to his anti-war stance during the invasion of Ukraine and faced immense pressure to renounce his views. Brizhaty now sees the high walls surrounding the palace as a symbol of the divide between Putin and the Russian people.