Putin has reportedly been the target of a number of assassination plots (Image: Getty)
Russia has warned that any attempt to assassinate Vladimir Putin would be met with a nuclear response.
The Kremlin was rocked by the assassination of one of its top military commanders in Moscow in December.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and an aide were killed when explosives planted on his scooter detonated.
Kirillov headed ‘s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection forces.
He has been accused of authorising and overseeing the use of chemical weapons on the battlefield in .
Aftermath of the explosion that killed Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov. (Image: Getty)
‘s SBU Security Service claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the Lt. General was “a war criminal” and “legitimate target”.
His assassination has increased Kremlin jitters that Putin and other senior officials could be next on the hit list.
In a clear sign that the Kremlin fears a plot to kill Putin could be underway, the House Speaker of ‘s Parliament issued a stark warning to any would-be assassins.
Writing on his Telegram channel, Vyacheslav Volodin said: “The plot to assassinate Putin, mere discussions of it is a crime, a serious threat to global security, a direct path to nuclear war. All international institutions should view it as a basis for an investigation.”
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Any attempt to kill Putin would be extremely difficult given the unprecedented security measures he is known to take.
However, despite the obvious difficulties such a mission would incur, there have been reports of plots against the Kremlin tyrant.
The head of ‘s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said in a TV interview that
Furthermore, the US journalist Tucker Carlson claimed that ‘s administration had considered getting rid of ‘s dictator.
However, a leading anti-Putin opposition figure told the Express that or his elites and made that clear to Kyiv.
Responding to the question whether it would be more productive to try and kill Putin and his Kremlin backers, Ilya Ponomarev said: “I do think that attacks on members of Putin’s elites are more impactful than attacks on the certain military bases or derailing certain trains
“But here we have to do work because just on ourselves we are unable to carry out these activities inside if we are not assisted by Ukrainians primarily.
“And Ukrainians have to listen to what Americans are saying and that’s the restriction.”