Vladimir Putin's insane security – from hidden bodyguards to bulletproof suitcases

invasion of Ukraine turns into a grim and costly slog, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is looking to his overseas allies to reinforce his flagging army. A video has emerged that appears to show a large group of Syrian mercenaries cheering as they prepare to ship out to Ukraine and Putin has announced that some 16,000 fighters from the Middle East will soon be deployed alongside Russian troops in Ukraine's Donbas region.

Vladimir Putin’s "secret girlfriend" is living a life of luxury in a Swiss chalet with locals ordered to keep a lid on her location, an insider has claimed.Alina Kabaeva, an Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast, reportedly travelled to a “very private and very secure” chalet near Lugano with her and Putin’s young children as Russia was invading Ukraine.The 38-year-old was once described as “Russia’s most flexible woman” and is believed to be the mother of Putin’s two sons and a daughter – or possibly two twin daughters.A source in the Swiss city told the Daily Mirror: “Before the coronavirus pandemic there was often gossip about Putin’s mistress being in town.“They are known to have strong connections here, but anyone who knows them has been sworn to secrecy.“While Russia falls apart because of the sanctions, this is the perfect place for Putin to send Alina and their kids.”Claims of Putin’s links to Lugano first surfaced seven years ago, when in February 2015, a local TV station reported that Kabeava had given birth at a private VIP maternity clinic in Sorengo, on the peripheries of the city.They were said to have reserved two rooms at the discreet private maternity hospital Clinic Sant’Anna – a favourite of wealthy Russians.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.One suite was for the birth, while the second was for family and bodyguards.According to insiders, President Putin was present.The Kremlin dismissed the rumours, as it does any query about Putin’s private life.Kabaeva, one of the most decorated rhythmic gymnasts in history, has never confirmed whether they have one daughter, or twin girls, nor has ever addressed claims they got married in a secret

Russian spy who trained on the same military program as Vladimir Putin has warned that the Russian President 'will go to the end' in Ukraine. Aliia Roza now lives in a £15million California mansion running a multi-million-dollar fashion PR business, but previously had a drastically different lifestyle.

Russia would face a “dramatic increased response” from the West if Vladimir Putin uses chemical weapons in Ukraine, a Tory minister warned.

Russian president Vladimir Putin's apparent propaganda grip on his people is slipping if Russian media is anything to go by. According to local reports, one of the biggest talk shows in the country, hosted by pro-Russia, pro-Putin Vladimir Soloviyev had two guests on a recent episode – both of whom portrayed negative views about the invasion of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin once got then US President George W. Bush to join him in a dance to a Cossack folk song in a bizarre moment between the two nations.The footage shows Putin and Mr Bush being joined by a number of Russian dancers in Sochi in 2008.Putin can be seen in the shot lightly moving with a dancer as Bush seems to pull out some awkward dad dancing, not in the style of the folk song.Although both are dancing, it is noticeable that Putin is positioned with a woman on stage as Mr Bush is being shown the ropes of Cossack dancing just off of it.The two then ended their performance with a handshake as they sat down at the dinner table together.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughters who have had to make their way through life in his tyrannical shadow.Although the 69-year-old despot keeps his private life incredibly private, it is public knowledge that he shares two daughters with his ex-wife Lyudmila Putina, who he separated from in 2013 after 30 years of marriage.These are 36-year-old Maria Faassen and her sister 35-year old Katerina Tikhonova. He is also rumoured to be the father of 18-year-old Luiza Rozova, though in charming Putin fashion he has never publically acknowledged his suspected progeny, reports the Mirror.

Vladimir Putin using dog poo to "insult" the Russian President and raise money for victims of the war in Ukraine. Dominic Murphy from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, created the piece with the help of his dog Sybil and titled it "Poo-tin's a S**t".

officials are investigating the ownership of a superyacht anchored on the Tuscan coast.The yacht, worth £532 million, and measuring a staggering 459 feet, is believed to be owned by Russian president Vladimir Putin, but has never been confirmed.But now Italian law enforcement has been spotted swarming the boat, called Scheherazade, in an attempt to clarify the situation.The boat's captain Guy Bennett-Pearce told the New York Times: “They are looking hard.“They are looking at every aspect.“This isn’t the local coppers coming down, these are men in dark suits - I had no choice but to hand over documents.“I have never seen him. I have never met him.“I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this will clear the vessel of all negative rumours and speculations” If it's proven to be owned by the man who ordered the invasion of Ukraine, the boat will be seized as part of a Europe-wide crackdown on Russia and Russian assets.

Major General has outlined Vladimir Putin's three 'disastrous miscalculations' in Ukraine, which may not only lose Russia the war but also see the 'end of his rule'. Taking to Twitter, former Australian Major General Mick Ryan explained exactly what has gone wrong for the Russian President, with the Armed Forces of Ukraine claiming today that more than 12,000 of his soldiers have been killed so far.

Editor’s note: In Hollie McKay’s newest special report for Deadline, the seasoned foreign affairs correspondent and Only Cry for the Living: Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield author is still in Ukraine, where Vladimir Putin’s invasion is turning increasingly brutal & resistance is intensifying.

Vladimir Putin piggyback fancy dress costume may just be the most offensive party outfit ever. The costume has been listed for sale on eBay while Russia's president wages war and widespread suffering on the people of Ukraine.

Piers Morgan, 56, has once again taken to Twitter to condemn Russian President Vladmir Putin as he continues to "slaughter" Ukrainians.The former Good Morning Britain presenter has called for the world to stand up to Putin, along with leaders with "the guts to do it".Piers posted a series of tweets this evening in response to distressing pictures from Ukraine.Journalist Olga Tokairiuk took to Twitter to post pictures of pregnant Ukrainian women "covered in blood", along with pictures of dead bodies being put into mass graves.In response, Piers said in view of his 7.9 million followers: "FFS. How can we ignore this? (sic)"The world must stand up to Putin, and we need leaders with the guts to do it."He also took to Twitter to comment on a video showing Russian troops directly targeting a maternity hospital, full of women and children.In response, Piers said: "This is so f*****g disgusting."Putin's a genocidal monster deliberately slaughtering women & babies."At what point do we stop watching him commit these sickening war crimes and do something to stop him?"Our cowardly inaction is shameful & pathetic." (sic)Many social media users took to the comments of both posts to express their sadness on what is happening in Ukraine.Deanyemery said: "For once I agree with you @PiersMorgan."All those arguing against action as it would cause WW3 are just delaying the inevitable."Putin will not step down unless he makes some serious gains.

Vladimir Putin is renowned for his deep mistrust in everything and everyone - and it seems fighting champion Conor McGregor is no exception.

Vladimir Putin is known for his aggressive 'short-man syndrome' but Russia's leader has just got a whole lot smaller as a voodoo doll.The president has become the target of dark magic and creepy superstition in the form of a sea of seven inch figures each impaled with pins.In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a craftswoman from Florida, US is selling handmade Putin voodoo dolls for £23.89 so customers can "stick it to him" and prevent him causing more "chaos". Di Di who sells arts and crafts on Etsy under the name BadCherrybyDD, told the Daily Star that Putin is already proving popular with 150 dolls sold.

Caitriona Balfe was quite candid when she spoke out against Russian leader Vladimir Putin after it was reported his forces bombed a Ukranian maternity hospital during their ongoing invasion of the country. The Outlander actress took to her Twitter on Wednesday (March 9) to curse Putin. “Hitting maternity hospitals. F**k you Putin and anyone who refuses to condemn him in the strongest of language. #Mariupol #Ukraine️,” she wrote. 

Vladimir Putin’s strangely stiff walk may not be Parkinson's but could be linked to his years of being trained as a KGB operative, according to researchers.Many videos online have revealed Putin’s unusual walk that shows his right arm remain rigid by his side with his left free to swing normally.Some health specialists felt this could have been the signs of a stroke or Parkinson’s, but a group of researchers feel this is an effect of his strict training.Neurology professor Bastiaan Bloem of the Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands has been analysing Putin’s walk on YouTube videos and only came to a conclusion over the strange walk after finding a KGB training manual.The KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union and was where Putin served for a reported 16 years.The manual shows how the KGB operatives were both trained and instructed to keep their right hand close to their chests.Researchers believe the instruction allowed the operative to be able to draw his gun quicker than a potential enemy in a move compared with gunslinger’s of the Wild West.Writing his theory in The BMJ, the British Medical Journal’s online publication, Mr Bloem and his fellow researchers said: “According to this manual, KGB operatives were instructed to keep their weapon in their right hand close to their chest and to move forward with one side, usually the left, presumably allowing subjects to draw the gun as quickly as possible when confronted with a foe.”They continued: “We propose that this new gait pattern, which we term ‘gunslinger’s gait,’ may result from a behavioural adaptation, possibly triggered by KGB or other forms of weapons training where trainees are taught to keep their right hand close to the chest

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, a UK artist managed to both raise money for war victims and dump on Vladimir Putin by selling a portrait of the Russian president made out of dog poop. “I did a portrait of Putin using dog s – – t,” Dominic Murphy told the Welwyn Hatfield Times of his odiferous opus, titled “Poo-tin’s a S – – t” on his site.

Vladimir Putin, stopped socialising when he was 11-years-old and set himself a serious goal, according to one of his former teachers.

Russia.Mazepin Sr has been added to the list after it emerged he met with Putin on 24 February - hours after Putin ordered the invasion."Mazepin, along with other 36 business people, met with President Putin and other members of the Russian government to discuss the impact of the course of action in the wake of Western sanctions," the EU said."The fact that he was invited to attend this meeting shows that he is a member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin."And that he is supporting or implementing actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as stability and security in Ukraine."Mazepin has also been added to the list of sanctions due to his racing career benefiting from his dad's money.The Russian was sacked by Haas after debuting in F1 last season, where he faced a difficult season.Mazepin failed to acquire only points during the first 21 races of the season - before he missed the season finale after testing positive for Covid.What do you think of the EU sanctioning Mazepin? Let us know in the comments sectionThe EU document continued: "Nikita Mazepin is the son of Dmitry Arkadievich Mazepin, General Director of JSC UCC Uralchem."As Uralchem sponsors Haas F1 Team, Dmitry Mazepin is the major sponsor of his son's activities at Haas F1 Team."He is a natural person associated with a leading businessperson (his father) involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation."Which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine."

Vladimir Putin may be preparing the ground for using chemical and biological warfare in Ukraine after his invasion faltered.