Federal Security Service

The Federal Security Service (FSB) is the principal domestic security agency of the Russian Federation, tasked with protecting the state against internal threats. Its core functions include counterintelligence, safeguarding state secrets, protecting the constitutional order, combating terrorism and organized crime, and securing the nation’s borders. The agency also oversees the protection of critical infrastructure and conducts surveillance operations to prevent espionage and subversive activities. In addition to its security mandate, the FSB is responsible for issuing licenses for activities involving state secrets and for regulating certain types of cryptographic work. It operates throughout the Russian Federation, maintaining a presence in all federal districts to carry out its protective and investigative duties. The service works closely with other branches of the Russian power structure, providing intelligence assessments that inform national policy decisions.

The FSB reports directly to the President of Russia, reflecting its status as a federal executive body rather than a subsidiary of any larger corporation. Its lineage traces back to the KGB, giving it a historical reputation for extensive reach within Russian society. The agency’s distinguishing attributes include its dual role as both a security service and a regulatory authority over matters classified as state secrets. The March 2022 DDoS attack against the FSB’s official website, carried out by hacktivist groups as part of the OpRussia campaign, highlighted the agency’s online visibility and the vulnerability of its digital assets to external disruption. While the incident demonstrated the capability of adversarial actors to temporarily impair the FSB’s web presence, it also underscored the service’s ongoing engagement in the cyber domain as both a target and a participant in broader information confrontations. The organization’s headquarters are located in Moscow, Russia, anchoring its operational command within the nation’s capital.