A glimpse into the opaque world of Vladimir Putin's Kremlin
Reports from Moscow paint a picture of a man whose actions in Ukraine are source of mystery
He is revered, even feared, to the point where no one will contradict him; broadly supported, but very narrowly advised by an ever-tighter group of confidantes.
This is the picture of Vladimir Putin and his leadership style painted by people with knowledge of the Kremlin, at a time when such things matter more than at any time since the collapse of communism.
Putin's Ukraine actions have made him once again arguably the world's most fascinating leader, but his thinking is becoming as opaque as Moscow was during the time of Leonid Brezhnev and the cold war.
One anecdote about Putin's Kremlin reveals a tantalising glimpse of what it is to be a presidential adviser. Putin receives briefings in red folders; he very rarely uses the internet. According to one source, requirements for his briefing notes have changed significantly in recent months.
He now demands notes on any topic to be no more than three pages long and produced in an eyesight-friendly type.
But the number of people speaking truth to power is small. The majority of those in the Russian government, exasperated by the sharp Western response to the six-month crisis, approve of Putin's actions in Ukraine. But those who disapprove have no forum in which to voice their doubts. Evgeny Minchenko, an analyst who studies Kremlin elites, says that the security services, after reshuffles and purges, are "more loyal to Putin than at any time since he took power".
That doesn't mean the Kremlin is united. Former employees say the level of infighting is remarkable because of the extraordinary array of people working under one roof.