Children of Russian high-profile security officials or so-called “siloviki” are securing key positions in domestic tech surveillance assets, according to The Bell and RBC business portal citing investigative reports.

bne IntelliNews closely follows the regulatory tightening in the tech and TMT segment and state takeover of the Russian digital space, as the Kremlin pushes for “internet sovereignty”.

In the latest development confirming this trend, Andrei Patrushev, son of former Security Council secretary and ex-Federal Security Bureau (FSB) director Nikolai Patrushev, reportedly acquired a 25-30% stake in cybersecurity integrator Cross Technologies. 

The company specialises in information security, internet censorship equipment and holds licences from the FSB and the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control, reportedly ranking among the top 20 IT suppliers to the public sector.

Meanwhile, Boris Korolev, son of a senior Federal Security Service official, secured a senior role at IX Holding, according to The Bell.

The 29-year-old reportedly became the first deputy CEO of IX Holding, a major supplier of internet traffic filtering equipment, with reported revenue of RUB163bn ($1.8bn) in 2023. 

Korolev may also hold an ownership stake in the group following the redistribution of shares after the death of founder Anton Cherepennikov, although this cannot be independently verified due to undisclosed reporting.

Cross Technologies’ revenue increased six-fold since 2021 to RUB8bn, while in 2024 revenue reached RUB8.2bn, up two-fold year-on-year (y/y), and net profit rose 28-fold to RUB908mn, according to RBC. 

Analysts surveyed by RBC estimated the company’s valuation at RUB5bn-7bn, placing the acquired stake at RUB1bn-2bn, and noted that revenue is largely driven by integration services and related offerings.

According to the Centre for Strategic Research, cited by RBC, Russia’s information security market reached RUB369bn in 2025, up 48.5% compared with 2023, and is projected to grow to RUB968bn by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 21%. 

Separately, T1 reportedly forecasts 12% growth in 2026 versus 2025, driven by stricter regulation, continued import substitution and sustained demand for advanced threat protection systems.