Russian ‘plot to ASSASSINATE Putin uncovered’ as secret services ‘hunt agent within their own ranks’

RUSSIAN secret services are investigating an alleged plot from "within their own ranks" to assassinate Vladimir Putin. 

The hunt is on for a supposed FSB agent who was reportedly boasting about taking down the dictator at a karaoke club in Moscow.

An informant, named Mikhail Yurchenko, told the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU - which has close links to Vlad's security agencies- the "agent" was gloating about being given the "task" to "remove" the dictator.

The bizarre claim came from a meeting at Honey, a Moscow club and known haunt of Russian security services operatives.

He apparently showed the informant his service ID card during a “long heart-to-heart conversation about the war and future life in Russia”.

The informant is said to have told the channel that he "did not argue and changed the topic," throughout the alleged exchange.

Yurchenko was left “haunted” by the supposed threat to Putin and reported it to police.

The channel then said Russian special services "have been searching for several days for the unknown person who planned to ‘remove’ Putin".

"Based on his tip, operatives went to study the situation in the Honey club, where…you can often meet employees of various [secret] departments," they continued.

The Russian dictator is known for taking his security extremely seriously and lives in constant fear of being assassinated.

As the war in Ukraine goes on, Vlad has become increasingly isolated and paranoid with people from his inner circle describing him as living in a "cocoon".

Russian defector Gleb Karakulov told the  earlier this year: "He is pathologically afraid for his life. He surrounds himself with an impenetrable barrier of quarantines and an information vacuum."

Putin is believed to be obsessed with his own death - from an illness or at the hands of an enemy.

The fear of death appears to have escalated to germaphobia amid mounting rumours of his frail health.

The Russian leader notoriously meets his guests at a 13ft long table and makes staff quarantine for two weeks before meetings.

The Russian tyrant is also said to be terrified of the possibility that he could be ousted and killed by his inner circle.

He is claimed to have survived six assassination attempts since being in office.

Last year his limousine was allegedly attacked in a possible attempt on his life.

He survived a further assassination attempt earlier in 2022, at the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The country's Chief of Defence Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said at the time there was an "unsuccessful attempt" on the Russian President's life.

The paranoid dictator is believed to be moving from bunker to bunker, as leaked photos reveal the interior of his luxury armoured “ghost” train - complete with an onboard mobile hospital.

An ex-Russian officer claimed that Putin's cronies dubbed "The Ozeros" plan to sabotage Russian military operations in a bid to end Moscow's disastrous war in Ukraine.

Igor Girkin believes they would target Russia's Ministry of Defence, the FSB and other major government departments - and replace Putin.

Vlad's obsession with his own death means that his public appearances are becoming increasingly rare and stage-managed and according to reports he regularly changes locations and travel routes. 

Russian security services are accused of dealing with many supposed terrorist plots to justify their effectiveness in protecting him.

It comes as Putin is expected to announce that he will seek a new six-year term in the Kremlin. 

Elections are due in March 2024.

Vlad told students recently in Sochi that he has many admirers in Europe who share his traditional values. 

“I want to defend our friends. We have a lot of friends in Europe… 

“People who believe that traditional values, including the family, have died out.”

He then attacked the West, saying they “behave very aggressively, particularly in North America and Europe".