On the surface, the Kremlin elite project unity and loyalty to Vladimir Putin's course. However, the real picture may differ, as evidenced by the recent leak of correspondence belonging to presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov. The hacker group Black Mirror published an archive of Mikhail Babich, containing dialogues with an account identified as Dmitry Peskov. These messages, dating from May 2023 to the end of July 2026, shed light on behind-the-scenes sentiments in the Kremlin concerning both domestic policy and the course of the war in Ukraine.

Source of Information and its Reliability

The correspondence was published by the hacker group Black Mirror, which specializes in selling hacked archives of Russian officials and public figures. Despite the questionable origin, the authenticity of the published data is confirmed by a number of facts. The agency checked one of the fragments concerning Yevgeny Prigozhin and found its source in a real, albeit deleted, Telegram channel post. Ksenia Sobchak previously called her leaked correspondence fakes, however, none of the figures involved in the Black Mirror publications were able to prove the data was forged. The author of the article estimates the authenticity of the correspondence at 99%.

Dialogue with Mikhail Babich

One of the participants in the correspondence is Mikhail Babich, a man with extensive experience in law enforcement agencies (KGB, Airborne Forces), former Prime Minister of Chechnya, State Duma deputy from "United Russia," Presidential Envoy to the Volga Federal District, and then Ambassador to Minsk. Since 2021, Babich has held the position of Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. The correspondence testifies to Babich's close relationship with Peskov, expressed in the use of the informal "you" and discussions of personal career matters.

Dmitry Peskov, the president's press secretary since 2012, is known for his ability to evade direct answers to sensitive questions. His private correspondence is of particular value as it reveals his personal views, which differ from the official Kremlin rhetoric.

May 2023: Escalation of the Conflict with Prigozhin

The first fragment of correspondence dates back to May 2023, a period of escalating conflict between Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Ministry of Defense. On May 5, Prigozhin published a video showing the bodies of his fighters, demanding ammunition from Shoigu and Gerasimov. Peskov, in response to a question about the Kremlin's reaction, used the standard formulation about the impossibility of commenting on the course of the SMO.

On May 9, Prigozhin, in his musings about the "happy grandfather," hinted at the possible incompetence of the country's leadership. On May 23, Prigozhin's interview with Konstantin Dolgov was released, in which he criticized the course of the "special military operation," noting Ukraine's militarization and corruption. Babich, forwarding this interview to Peskov, noted: "It seems he is no longer in the SMO after all." Peskov agreed, writing: "The tragedy is that all of this is true, and we are all talking about it one way or another, only it is considered that one cannot speak about it publicly."

Peskov also reported that he had personally argued with Prigozhin an hour earlier, trying to dissuade him from radical actions. Babich expressed the opinion that Prigozhin might be right, and his actions are the only way to save something. Peskov replied: "It is unlikely that one can help a suicide. Later, we will remember him as a hero." With this phrase, Peskov demonstrated an understanding of the inevitability of a tragic outcome for Prigozhin, based on the rules of the system.

July 2026: Parade Cancellation and Tokayev's Speech

The second fragment of correspondence concerns events at the end of July 2026: Navy Day and Putin's meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Omsk.

Navy Day and Fear of Drones

The traditional naval parade on the Neva River, which Putin presided over from 2017 to 2023, was canceled in 2024 and held in a reduced format in 2025 and 2026. On July 26, 2026, Putin visited the Admiralty, where he was met by a guard of honor. Navy Commander-in-Chief Moiseev explained the absence of the parade by the need to focus on military tasks. The author of the article notes that Russia has lost a significant number of ships, and the remaining vessels are being decommissioned due to the threat of drone attacks.

Babich, forwarding a video of the ceremony to Peskov, called it "bullshit" and a "disgrace." Peskov replied: "Well, it's safe." He explained the choice of format by security considerations, which confirms the Kremlin's fears of Ukrainian strikes. The cancellation of the parade and the holding of the ceremony in the closed courtyard of the Admiralty, where the sea was depicted on a banner, indicate a fear of drones and a security threat.

Tokayev's Speech in Omsk

On July 25, 2026, in Omsk, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to Putin to freeze the conflict in Ukraine and return to the Istanbul agreements, citing signals from Europe and the US. Peskov reported in the evening that Putin explained to Tokayev the impossibility of a freeze due to Kyiv's position.

Babich, forwarding a video of Tokayev's speech to Peskov, asked: "Is this our new plan or an improvisation?" Peskov replied: "Pure improvisation." This confirms that Tokayev's speech was a surprise to the Kremlin. Babich suggested that Ukrainians, Americans, or someone "from within" Russia might have asked Tokayev to speak. Peskov did not rule out the latter version, which indicates the presence of people within the Russian government who desire an end to the war.

Выводы

Слитая переписка Дмитрия Пескова демонстрирует значительный разрыв между официальной кремлевской риторикой и реальными настроениями внутри элиты. Высокопоставленные чиновники и военные осознают серьезность ситуации, критикуют ход войны и коррупцию, но бездействуют, опасаясь последствий. Пригожин, пытавшийся действовать, был уничтожен. Система демонстрирует неспособность к изменениям, предпочитая сохранять видимость стабильности, несмотря на внутренние противоречия и растущие угрозы. Песков, подтверждая в частной переписке правдивость критики, продолжает публично транслировать официальную позицию, что подчеркивает двойные стандарты и страх перед открытым выражением несогласия.