A whistleblower claims that the chances of Vladimir Putin being deposed in a coup are increasing “week by week” as the botched invasion of Ukraine continues.
According to a source within Russia’s security service, the FSB, agents are growing increasingly dissatisfied with Putin’s handling of the war.
Putin expected a quick victory when he ordered the invasion on February 24, but fierce Ukrainian resistance has resulted in an increasing death toll, including several generals and senior officers.
According to Russian journalist Vladimir Osechkin, who cited his source, Western sanctions are crippling the lifestyle of his country’s high-flying secret service agents, who are allegedly barred from visiting their vacation homes or taking their children to Disneyland Paris.
FSB officers are paid more than the average Russian and are provided with a state-provided apartment.
Osechin told The New York Times: “Putin has been responsible for Russia’s stability for the past 20 years. Officers of the FSB, police officers, and state prosecutors — those inside the system — were able to live normal lives.”
He claimed that Western sanctions were ruining the situation and adding to the Russian leader’s collective disillusionment.
“For every week and month that this war continues, the possibility of a rebellion by those in the security services grows,” Osechkin said.
It comes as Russia is said to have suffered 40,000 casualties in the month since the conflict began.
When a pro-Kremlin newspaper revealed the figure, Moscow unintentionally revealed it had lost 10,000 troops.
However, NATO has stated that the figure could be as high as 15,000, with total losses including wounded, captured, or missing totaling up to 40,000.
According to a NATO official, the estimate is based on figures from what Russia has revealed, either intentionally or unintentionally.
If NATO’s estimate is correct, Russia’s losses in Ukraine in less than a month now equal those suffered during their ten-year war in Afghanistan, which ended in 1989.
Meanwhile, Kremlin insider Anatoly Chubais has resigned and left the country, citing his opposition war in Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.
On Tuesday, the 66-year-old climate envoy announced his resignation in a letter to colleagues and friends.
Chubais was involved in the economic reforms that followed the Soviet Union’s demise, but he remained in Putin’s government and maintained close ties with Western officials.
As a result of the faltering invasion, Putin is said to have placed General Vladislav Yershov under house arrest.
According to Ukrainian media, the 6th Army has lost 2000 soldiers under his command, including 180 conscripts performing national service.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who has not been seen in 12 days and is said to be suffering from “heart problems,” fired him.
He is regarded as one of Putin’s closest and most steadfast allies.
However, disagreements have arisen with him and other top army and security officials regarding the conduct of the war.
Ksenia, his 31-year-old daughter, was recently photographed with her baby in Ukrainian blue and yellow.
Putin’s troops are said to have been duped, with some told the brutal invasion would be a training exercise and others assured they would be greeted as heroes.
