At least four members of Vladimir Putin's inner circle have been assassinated in recent weeks, and now attention is turning to who could be next on the bloody hit list.
Last weekend, Darya Dugina – the 29-year-old daughter of Putin's so-called "spiritual guide" Alexander Dugin – died in a fiery car bomb in Moscow which many believe was intended for her ultranationalist father, described as a mastermind of the Ukraine invasion.
Days after the young journalist's death, the Russian leader publicly declared it to be a "vile, cruel crime" against a "patriot of Russia", and rumours began swirling that Ukraine had orchestrated the blast – a claim furiously denied by Kyiv.
Russian political philosopher and ideologue Alexander Dugin speaks during a memorial ceremony for his daughter Daria Dugina. Photo / Getty Images
Then, just days later, a top pro-Putin official was killed in another car bomb.
Ivan Sushko, a 40-year-old married father of one who served as an official in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, also died after a blast ripped apart his car.
Sushko was the head of the Mykhailivka – Russia's military-civilian administration – in the area, which houses Europe's biggest nuclear plant.
His death was confirmed by fellow senior official Vladimir Rogov, who revealed Sushko was killed by "saboteurs", with an investigation now under way.
"An explosive device had been placed under his car seat," he said, pointing the finger at Ukrainians and claiming Russian officials were in the area to "help improve the lives of ordinary people".
Ivan Sushko was also killed by a car bomb on August 24. Photo / Twitter
Just one day before Sushko's death, another Russian leader narrowly survived a near-identical attempt on his life.
On Monday, the deputy head of domestic policy for occupied Kherson, Igor Telegin, was rushed to hospital after his car was targeted by a radio-controlled roadside bomb, although he is reportedly recovering despite sustaining extensive injuries.
And in recent weeks, at least two other Russian officials have been killed in Ukraine in similar circumstances, including Vitaly Gura, who was gunned down on August 6, and Dmitry Savluchenko, who died after a car bombing in late June.
Elites spooked by killings
The string of assassinations has reportedly rocked Russia's elites, who believed they and their loved ones would be safe as the Ukraine war raged.
However, despite the deaths making global headlines, the mystery of who was behind the attacks is yet to be solved.
But in the wake of Dugina's death, Ilya Ponomarev – a former Russian MP who was expelled for anti-Kremlin activities – has come forward to claim an underground group known as the National Republican Army (NRA) may actually have been responsible.
According to Ponomarev, the Russian partisans are operating on home soil and are on a mission to topple Putin – and his supporters.
Appearing on the Russian-language television channel February Morning a day after Dugina's assassination, Ponomarev read parts of the NRA's manifesto, claiming it proved the group was planning more attacks against Putin's "accomplices".
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo / AP
"We declare President Putin a usurper of power and a war criminal who amended the Constitution, unleashed a fratricidal war between the Slavic peoples and sent Russian soldiers to certain and senseless death," the manifesto states.
"Poverty and coffins for some, palaces for others – the essence of his policy. We believe that disenfranchised people have the right to rebel against tyrants.
"Putin will be deposed and destroyed by us … Those who do not resign their power will be destroyed by us."
It comes amid ongoing allegations that Putin's health is declining, and as Britain's Ministry of Defence offered a new, damning summary of Russia's operations in Ukraine.
"Operationally, Russia is suffering from shortages of munitions, vehicles and personnel. Morale is poor in many parts of its military and its army is significantly degraded," the Ministry of Defence declared in its most recent assessment.
Putin's daughter is under guard
Meanwhile, separate reports have emerged that Putin sent dozens of Russian intelligence officers to watch over one of his daughters when she repeatedly travelled to the West to meet her lover.
Katerina Tikhonova, deputy director at the mathematical research of complex systems at Moscow State University. Photo / Getty Images
An investigation by the Important Stories media outlet and Der Spiegel claims the Russian leader ordered the squad to secretly accompany his daughter Katerina Tikhonova, 35, when she visited various European locations as her romantic relationship with ballet dancer Igor Zelensky, 53, flourished after the collapse of her marriage. The pair reportedly share a 2-year-old daughter.
The series of trips to the West occurred over four years and came after Vladimir Putin lashed Russians who enjoyed the benefits of a Western lifestyle.
