HARD TARGET
How Putin has survived SIX ‘assassination attempts’ – forcing him to surround himself with crack team of snipers
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin is now believed to have survived six assassination attempts and is so fearful for his life that he has surrounded himself with an elite team of snipers.
On Wednesday, Putin's limousine was allegedly attacked in a possible attempt on the Russian president's life as his brutal war in Ukraine rages on.
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Vlad's limo was hit by a "loud bang" on its left front wheel as it drove through Moscow, which was followed by "heavy smoke", sources close to the leader alleged.
"A loud bang sounded from the left front wheel followed by heavy smoke," the source claimed.
Putin's limo was driven to safety with the president unharmed - but there have been multiple arrests from his security service, it is claimed.
"A narrow circle of people knew about the movement of the president in this cortege, and all of them were from the presidential security service," they added.
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The same source claims in a separate post that Putin had ordered his glamorous lover Alina Kabaeva, 39, a former Olympic gymnast, to have an abortion, leading to a "worsening" of their relations.
This news comes amid a reported revolt among many of Putin's allies following the continued failure to defeat Ukraine.
Putin was reportedly travelling back to his official residence at the time in a decoy motorcade amid his increasing paranoia, according to the anti-Kremlin Telegram channel General SVR.
The backup convoy was made up of five armoured cars, with Putin in the third.
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It is unclear when the potential assassination attempt took place and it has not been immediately possible to verify the claim.
This comes after he survived a further attempt on his life earlier this year.
The second most recent attempt is thought to have taken place at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, although details are only now emerging.
ATTACK IN CAUCASUS
Ukraine’s Chief of Defence Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said at the time there was an "unsuccessful attempt" on the President’s life.
Budanov told Ukrainian : "Putin was attacked…
"He was even attacked in the line of, as they say, representatives of the Caucasus not so long ago.
"This is non-public information. Absolutely unsuccessful attempt, but it really took place… It was about two months ago."
"Once again, he was unsuccessful. There is no publicity about this event, but it took place. "
It was not clear who was behind the alleged attack or where it took place.
Putin is now said to be so fearful of another attempt on his life he has surrounded himself with crack snipers and is thought to travel everywhere with them.
The crack-shot snipers have one very important job which is to locate other shooters and "take them out" before they get the chance to pull the trigger on Putin.
Russia's President is said to have become obsessed with the idea someone is out to get him, which makes him seek protection in his isolated bunker.
Putin's army of minions hired to protect him are the only ones allowed close enough, as he obsesses over assassination plots.
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The distrustful despot even employs a team of people to taste his food before he eats it, convinced he could be poisoned.
It seems the Russian dictator is becoming increasingly paranoid behind the scenes, fearing someone in his own inner sanctum could poison him.
There were rumours the former KGB spy even ordered special gloves to protect his skin from possible exposure to killer substances.
Even his daily morning swim is no longer sacred, as he tests the water multiple times a day to check for suspicious chemical levels.
As he approaches age 70 and rumours of his declining health swirl, it is understood the Russian President's trusted generals now view him as incompetent and humiliating.
According to reports, the tyrant is constantly accompanied by a legion of doctors as he struggles with his mystery illness.
Putin’s fears could be well-grounded though as there have been at least four previous attempts on his life.
VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN
During a state visit by Putin to Azerbaijan in 2002 an Iraqi man was arrested after apparently plotting to kill the Russian President.
According to reports, the attempt was due to take place in January 2002 by an Iraqi with links to Afghanistan and Chechen rebel forces.
He was set to deliver explosives to a co-conspirator.
Security forces learned of the plot and arrested the man and the accomplice.
They were sentenced to ten years in prison.
BOMB UNDER MOTORWAY
In November 2002 details of another plot on Putin’s life emerged.
The Russian leader was supposed to be driving along a motorway near the Kremlin.
Along the way, there was a group of people who claimed they were installing new signs.
Just an hour later though a media outlet reported that 40 kilos of explosives had been discovered set to detonate along the road.
The devices then mysteriously disappeared and Putin’s car was rerouted.
Officials, to this day, refuse to comment on the matter and even deny it ever took place.
BRIT COPS FOIL CONSPIRACY
British anti-terror police reportedly thwarted a plot to kill Putin in October 2003.
A source told The Sunday Times two male would-be assassins had been arrested but they had been released without charge and had returned to Russia.
It was claimed the men, one allegedly a former Russian secret service hitman, were hatching a plot for Putin to be shot by a sniper while on a foreign trip.
The report claimed the former Russian agent knew a senior officer in the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia's state security service and successor to the Soviet KGB, who would provide information about Putin's movements while abroad, allowing assassins to set up a hit.
Details had been given to British police by Alexander Litvinenko, a former FSB officer who defected to Britain three years ago, after he had been contacted by the alleged plotter, the newspaper said.
Cops confirmed at the time two men, aged 40 and 36, were held by police in connection with the allegation but they were released after questioning and said no further action would be taken against them.
CHECHEN REBEL
Chechen Adam Osmayev, who it was claimed had links to the UK, was paraded on Russian television after an alleged plot to assassinate Putin was foiled in 2012.
The so-called “terrorist” was captured by special forces in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa.
He later appeared on state TV, half naked and with apparent injuries, making a supposed confession.
Osmayev said in his appearance: “Our goal was to go to Moscow and try to kill Prime Minister Putin... Our deadline was after the Russian presidential election.”
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The Russian security services previously claimed that Osmayev was “a graduate of a prestigious institution of higher learning in Great Britain”, and was from a prominent Chechen family opposed to Putin.
The arrests of two suspects was made by the Ukrainian special services anti-terrorist unit Alfa after an accidental explosion in January 2012 in an Odessa apartment which killed a third alleged “terrorist,” Ruslan Madayev.
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