Since the beginning of the invasion, Putin has been removing members of his inner circle, including Colonel General Sergey Beseda, head of Russia’s intelligence service FSB, and his deputy.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has not been seen in public for more than a week due to “heart problems,” according to reports.

Putin biographer Professor Mark Galeotti stated in the Daily Mail: “There has never been such fervent rumour and counter-rumour in the Kremlin since the Soviet Union’s demise. A firing squad is forming in a circle, with everyone pointing their guns at each other.”