Putin called the force a "drug" according to the Financial Times, in late 2022 Putin said this in a meeting with former Stasi operative Matthias Wernig. He noticed that due to isolation, the owner of the Kremlin lost the ability to find a personal connection with people. Putin invited Wernig to move to Russia with his family, but he refused. In the past, Putin has publicly denied dependence on power and criticized politicians who cling to their positions. However, constitutional changes in 2020 allowed him to remain in power until 2036.

Putin called the force a "drug" according to the Financial Times, in late 2022 Putin said this in a meeting with former Stasi operative Matthias Wernig. He noticed that due to isolation, the owner of the Kremlin lost the ability to find a personal connection with people. Putin invited Wernig to move to Russia with his family, but he refused. In the past, Putin has publicly denied dependence on power and criticized politicians who cling to their positions. However, constitutional changes in 2020 allowed him to remain in power until 2036.