VLADIMIR Putin's limousine was allegedly attacked in a possible assassination attempt as the war in Ukraine rages on, Kremlin insiders claim.
The Russian tyrant's car was hit by a "loud bang" on its left front wheel which was followed by "heavy smoke", sources close to the leader allege.
Putin's limo was driven to safety with the president unharmed – but there have been multiple arrests from his security service, it is claimed.
It is reported some of his bodyguards have vanished amid claims secret information about the 69-year-old's movements were compromised, according to the General GVR Telegram channel.
The anti-Kremlin channel claims Putin was travelling back to his official residence in a decoy motorcade amid security fears.
The "backup" convoy was made up of five armoured cars, with Putin in the third, it is claimed.
It is unclear when the potential assassination attempt took place and it has not been immediately possible to verify the claim.
The channel said: "On the way to the residence, a few kilometres away, the first escort car was blocked by an ambulance, [and] the second escort car drove around without stopping [due to the] sudden obstacle, and during the detour of the obstacle."
In Putin’s car “a loud bang sounded from the left front wheel followed by heavy smoke”, it is claimed.
The SVR General alleged Putin’s car “despite the problems with control” made its way out of the attack scene to reach the safety of the residence.
It added: “Subsequently, the body of a man was found driving [the] ambulance, which blocked the first car from the motorcade."
It comes amid claims Russian officials are calling for Putin to resign after the nation suffers "significant" setbacks amid a Ukrainian counterattack.
Ukrainian troops have retaken a large area of territory – forcing troops from Moscow to make a hasty retreat.
Russian forces are said to be pulling out from the key city of Melitopol in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region and heading toward Moscow-annexed Crimea in a humiliating blow for Kremlin.
Meanwhile, the Telegram channel said details of the supposed attack are “classified”.
It added: “The head of the president's bodyguard [service] and several other people have been suspended and are in custody,” the channel claimed, without naming anyone.
“A narrow circle of people knew about the movement of the president in this cortege, and all of them were from the presidential security service.
“After the incident, three of them disappeared. These were exactly the people who were in the first car of the motorcade.
“Their fate is currently unknown. The car on which they were travelling was found empty a few kilometres from the incident.”
It comes just months after Ukraine claimed the Russian president survived an assassination attempt after he was attacked during a trip.
The country's Chief of Defence Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said there was an "unsuccessful attempt" against Putin's life at the start of the war against Ukraine.
Last month, the daughter of Putin's pal was killed in a car bombing.
Darya Dugina, daughter of Putin's "war mastermind" Alexander Dugin, died while her dad narrowly survived the blast.
Dugin – seen by some as an inspiration for the invasion of Ukraine – was returning with his daughter to Moscow from a festival when he swapped vehicles at the last minute.
Meanwhile, at least seven Russian oligarchs close to Putin may have been murdered as the president purges his inner circle of former wealthy allies.
Since the start of the year, several of Putin's cronies have died in mysterious circumstances.
But sources believe they may have actually been murdered as it's claimed there were similarities in their deaths.
The latest apparent victim was Ivan Pechorin – Putin's point man for developing Russia's vast Arctic resources.
He fell off the side of a boat in waters close to Russky Island in mysterious circumstances, it is reported.
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