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Putin's 'witch-hunt' to root out 'guilty' men behind botched Ukraine invasion
Vladimir Putin is conducting a witch-hunt inside his inner circle to root out the `guilty men’ behind his bungled Ukraine invasion. Sources claim the Russian president is `incandescent’ the US and UK discovered details of his military plans which were passed onto Ukrainians.That is seen as the reason why five leading Russian generals and a top naval officer have been killed in fighting.Mr Putin is said to have grown wary of his defence minister Sergei Shoigu - a close ally and holiday pal - who is in overall charge of the invasion.His public appearances have been curtailed in the past week while his daughter Ksenia, 31, was seen posing in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag.Putin has been dismissive in private of long-time ally Alexander Bortnikov - FSB security service head - and snapped in meetings at Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian general staff.Bortnikov has been spoken of as a stand-in leader should Putin fall in a coup.Another reported target of presidential rage is Igor Kostyukov, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed forces, who faces imminent removal.Putin has also publicly humiliated SVR foreign intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin.
