Vladimir Putin is preparing for an attempted coup as discouraged military leaders and the Federal Security Service (FSB) look to remove him power, reports claim.
Rumours are swirling in the Kremlin that several former generals and KGB officials want to oust the Russian President and bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
The news comes as many of those Russians consider the invasion a mistake on the part of the government with devastating consequences for the country's economy, according to the Mirror.
The FSB is allegedly frustrated with the lack of military progress and have reached out to generals and former army officials, local media reports.
A group made up of former FSB officers called the "Siloviki" are said to be working together with former officers from other Russian intelligence units to try and push 69-year-old Putin out.
Analysts outside Russia have also pointed to signs that Putin may face a coup.
Russian security expert Andrei Soldatov told The Center for European Policy Analysis : "Does it matter? It matters a lot. This is the very first time the siloviki are putting distance between themselves and the president.
"Which opens up all sorts of possibilities."
He added: "The Russian President has been bracing for a coup for some weeks as has faced fierce criticism over his 'special operation' in Ukraine and he has purged around 150 of his spies over the constant failures."
Russian analyst Alexey Muraviev is also convinced Putin is facing a coup.
He told Sky News Australia: "I think that there have been tensions between Russia and the intelligence community and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
"I think that sort of false narrative was presented to them by the Supreme Commander in Chief, and when it fired back when the Russians began taking heavy casualties, Putin began quietly blaming the security services.
"I don’t think went really well also because he’s coming from within the security apparatus.
"About the initial planning and the initial phase of the invasion where the Russian military naturally assume that they’re going there as liberators rather than the invaders."
Last month, it was reported that Putin ordered a mass purge of 150 security officials.
The officers are said to be from the FSB security service, which is the successor to the KGB, with some removed while others were reportedly arrested.
All of those ousted were said to be employees of the Fifth Service, a division that was set up in 1998 when Putin was director of the FSB to perform operations in former Soviet Union countries.
The purge was reported by Christo Grozev, executive director of Bellingcat, an investigative news organisation.
It also follows claims Putin may disappear for a period of time to undergo an operation linked to cancer.
Recent appearances by the Kremlin boss have sparked rumours online as he appears bloated and in ill health.
Russian authorities have never commented on Putin's health and little is known about his personal life with the media under the yoke of the Kremlin.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
