Fact-check: Moscow internet outages spark coup rumors — experts say it's 'wishful thinking'

Speculations about coups and rebellions in Russia have been constant throughout the full-scale war. All of them, except one, were wishful thinking.

The latest rumor shared by British tabloids suggests that recent internet outages in Moscow were triggered by fears of an "imminent" coup by figures close to Sergei Shoigu, a senior security official and former defense minister.

The claim originates with the VChK-OGPU channel, known for sharing stories it says are leaked from Russian security services. The channel itself acknowledges it is merely a "conspiracy theory" from an undisclosed source.

Russia experts speaking to the Kyiv Independent have flatly dismissed the rumors.

MBFCArchive