GRU service (1980's) Korolev first joined the Soviet security services in August 1979, soon after finishing school. Little is known of his service during the Soviet Union.
Intelligence Online reports that Korolev served in the
GRU, the military intelligence agency of the Soviet Union and Russia, prior to transferring to the FSB. Serdyukov's career faltered when Vladimir Putin fired him in 2012 over a purported corruption scandal that many have described as a cover for Putin relenting to senior military leaders anger over the
Serdyukov Reforms, though Korolev escaped the investigation unscathed, transferring back to the FSB. Korolev’s colleagues claimed Makovoz was a valuable
human intelligence source,
Oleg Feoktistov became Serdyukov's deputy. The Internal Security Directorate led by Korolev is known for many high-profile criminal cases, for example, the Case of the GUEBiPK and General Sugrobov, the case of the St. Petersburg billionaire Dmitry Mikhalchenko, the cases of the governors of the Kirov region
Nikita Belykh and the
Komi Republic Vyacheslav Gaizer. This department also carried out operational support in the case of the former governor of the
Sakhalin Oblast,
Alexander Khoroshavin, and the mayor of
Vladivostok, Igor Pushkarev.
First deputy directorship (2021–present) On 24 February 2021, by decree of the president of Russia, Korolev was appointed First Deputy Director of the FSB. In early June, he was made a
General of the Army, the highest active rank in the Russian armed forces.
Sanctions He was sanctioned by the
UK government in 2022 in relation to the
Russo-Ukrainian War. In July 2022 the
European Union imposed sanctions on Korolev in relation to the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is additionally sanctioned by
Australia,
Belgium,
Canada,
Estonia,
France,
New Zealand,
Switzerland, the
United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
Other roles Korolev is a member of the commission on the construction of the
Vostochny cosmodrome. Since 2019, he has been appointed a member of the Supervisory Board of the
Kurchatov Institute. He is currently a member of the Supervisory Board of
Rosatom. In 2021, Korolev was appointed as Russia's representative to the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO)
Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), where he leads Russia's delegation to the
counterterrorism and anti-
separatism organization. == Personal life ==