Mad Vlad Putin faces pressure in Moscow as the continued failure of Russia's army in Ukraine sparked renewed rumours that former loyalists inside the Kremlin are preparing to oust him
By
Will Stewart Russia Correspondent
George Mathias
Vladimir Putin is under increasing pressure after his disastrous invasion of Ukraine (Image: Getty Images)
Cronies of Vladimir Putin are reportedly plotting a coup against him, while another trusted aide is lying low and preparing to act as kingmaker, according to new reports.
In a further blow to Mad Vlad, there are claims his whisky-loving foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is “drinking because he is depressed” and is suffering “health problems".
On top of this, there are recurring rumours of the dictator's poor health, with some believing he may have cancer.
According to insiders, there were two key meetings on Thursday (December 15) where he had to stay in the same position and sit on a special cushion.
Cronies of Vladimir Putin are reportedly plotting a coup against him, while another trusted aide is lying low and preparing to act as kingmaker, according to new reports.
In a further blow to Mad Vlad, there are claims his whisky-loving foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is “drinking because he is depressed” and is suffering “health problems".
On top of this, there are recurring rumours of the dictator's poor health, with some believing he may have cancer.
According to insiders, there were two key meetings on Thursday (December 15) where he had to stay in the same position and sit on a special cushion.
There are many reports that morale among Russian soldiers is extremely low (Image: AFP)
One report even claims to Kremlin's top chef, Yevgeny Progozhin, would be the man to start a coup against Putin.
Prigozhin, 61, had a remit much wider than merely serving up grub to the Kremlin elite, and even has his own private army and is thought to have recruited tens of thousands of mercenaries to fight in Ukraine.
“This is uncharted territory for Putin,” said Christo Grozev, the chief Russia investigator for the Bellingcat investigative journalism organisation.
“Prigozhin has 20,000 bloodthirsty, armed and aggressive men…
“They’re telling me, ‘We’re wondering if we should just lay down our arms because we’ve been turned into cannon fodder and go to Moscow?’ That’s in their thought process already.”
Grozev thinks a Prigozhin-led coup is a realistic option in the new year, saying: “This pressure cooker has to explode in one direction or another. Either it will be a bloody revolution or something else.”
One report even claims to Kremlin's top chef, Yevgeny Progozhin, would be the man to start a coup against Putin.
Prigozhin, 61, had a remit much wider than merely serving up grub to the Kremlin elite, and even has his own private army and is thought to have recruited tens of thousands of mercenaries to fight in Ukraine.
“This is uncharted territory for Putin,” said Christo Grozev, the chief Russia investigator for the Bellingcat investigative journalism organisation.
“Prigozhin has 20,000 bloodthirsty, armed and aggressive men…
“They’re telling me, ‘We’re wondering if we should just lay down our arms because we’ve been turned into cannon fodder and go to Moscow?’ That’s in their thought process already.”
Grozev thinks a Prigozhin-led coup is a realistic option in the new year, saying: “This pressure cooker has to explode in one direction or another. Either it will be a bloody revolution or something else.”
Ukrainian forces have fought bravely and wreaked havoc on Putin's forces (Image: AFP)
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A key rival to Prigozhin could be hardline security chief Nikolai Patrushev, 71, who is also thought to be keeping a low profile while another hardliner Sergei Kiryenko, an ex-prime minister, is also rumoured to be harboring leadership ambitions.
Meanwhile there are other claims that planning is underway to find a safe haven for Putin, should he have to escape the country.
Callled Operation Noah’s Ark, the plan would potentially see Putin exhiled to South America, according to Gallyamov.
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A key rival to Prigozhin could be hardline security chief Nikolai Patrushev, 71, who is also thought to be keeping a low profile while another hardliner Sergei Kiryenko, an ex-prime minister, is also rumoured to be harboring leadership ambitions.
Meanwhile there are other claims that planning is underway to find a safe haven for Putin, should he have to escape the country.
Callled Operation Noah’s Ark, the plan would potentially see Putin exhiled to South America, according to Gallyamov.
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