UKRAINIAN intelligence has claimed that members of the Russian elite are planning to poison Vladimir Putin.
The Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has said that "a group of influential" Kremlin insiders have been plotting to oust Putin.
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Ukrainian intelligence reports have claimed that Kremlin elite are plotting to remove Putin Credit: EPA 3
Oleksandr Bortnikov is said to be the likely successor to Putin according to reports Credit: Getty - Contributor
The goal of the "Russian elite" is to supposedly remove the president from power as soon as possible before restoring economic ties with the West.
According to the brief, the Ukrainian intelligence service also claims that a successor to Putin has already been lined up in the shape of FSB director Oleksandr Bortnikov, reports The Mirror.
Powerful insiders are allegedly dismayed at the ramifications of the war and the sanctions imposed on the Russian economy.
The Chief Directorate of Intelligence said: "It is known that Bortnikov and some other influential representatives of the Russian elite are considering various options to remove Putin from power.
"In particular, poisoning, sudden disease, or any other 'coincidence' is not excluded."
Bortnikov, 70, is a close ally of Putin and the two men climbed the ladder up Russian society together.
They both served on the KGB in Leningrad, before Bortnikov took over the rebranded security agency.
An in-depth investigation by the Dossier Centre claims that Bortnikov’s FSB is both the brain and the heart of the Putin regime, a “state within the state".
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Bortnikov is said to have fallen out of favour with Putin over errors in the Ukraine war.
An angry Putin has lashed out at and sacked eight generals in a bid to divert blame from himself for the bloody war which has killed almost 15,000 of his troops in just 25 days.
One Ukrainian intelligence source revealed recently: “It is noteworthy that Bortnikov has recently been disgraced by the Russian dictator.
“The official reason for the disgrace of the FSB leader – fatal miscalculations in the war against Ukraine.
“Bortnikov and his department were responsible for analyzing the mood of Ukraine and the ability of the Ukrainian army.” .
Ukrainian intelligence say that the plotting elite have chosen former KGB member Bortnikov to lead because he could reverse sanctions and restore economic ties with the West.
Due to his background, Bortnikov is believed to have a network of insiders working and living within Ukraine.
A western source said that rumours and suspicions "will sow the seeds of paranoia and doubt in the leadership".
“There is no doubt that as the Russian elite feel the pinch of sanctions that they will be looking at the future with an eye on what a catastrophe this war is for them - and it’s going to get worse.
“There is a significant suspicion that a small number of people might actually now try to get rid of the Russian President but whether they will succeed remains to be seen."
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The news comes after initial reports that Vladimir Putin has become increasingly paranoid about his own inner circle.
The Russian president is reportedly particularly paranoid over poisoning and is said to have ordered a team of tasters to test his food.
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Bortnikov is said to have fallen out of favour with Putin over errors in the Ukraine war Credit: Reuters