Putin’s Failure in Ukraine Has Him Living in Fear Back Home

When Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to launch his all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he expected to establish control over the country within three days. He was so sure of an easy victory that he refused to call the conflict a war, dubbing it a “special military operation” instead. With that operation now in its fifth year, it is becoming clear just how disastrous it has been not just for Russia but for Putin, personally.

Of course, Ukraine has suffered enormously. But if a recently leaked European intelligence report is accurate, Putin is now living in fear, spending much of his time in bunkers and worrying that he might be assassinated. The Kremlin, the report says, is now in a state of “high alert.”

Remarkably, it is not Ukraine’s highly skilled drone operators Putin is concerned about when it comes to assassination attempts. It is his own security services. And in addition to fearing for his life, Putin worries about a possible coup against him.