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Vladimir Putin appears to be so frightened a few potential assassination that he made his security team search sewers for threats near a venue where he was speaking.
Video footage showed men opening manhole covers on streets near the National Centre of Russia in central Moscow.
The Kremlin dictator was addressing a session on the centre amid claims that he was ‘dragging his heels’ over Donald Trump’s try and implement a ceasefire in Putin’s war against Ukraine.
‘All sewer hatches and garbage dumps’ had been checked rigorously before the despot began speaking, local media reported.
It comes as a source near the Kremlin and two Russian officials said the country’s special services previously ‘ramped up the already strict security measures surrounding Putin to an unprecedented degree’.
His speech on the National Centre of Russia went with no hitch after the thorough searches. Putin praised the role of war veterans from the conflict in Ukraine in a speech geared toward boosting patriotism.
‘It is extremely essential for youngsters to see that real heroes are very close [and] grow and mature [seeing] examples of true valour and love for the Motherland,’ he said.
‘Immersion within the events of the war years helps preserve the living fabric of historical memory concerning the feat of our people.
‘It gives crucial moral guidelines, which, I’m sure, the blokes will keep for the remaining of their lives and pass on to future generations of Russians.’
It’s ironic Putin is petrified of being assassinated – given dozens of his political opponents and critics have died over the past 25 years, while others survived suspected assassination attempts.
Assassination attempts against Putin’s enemies have been common during his nearly quarter century in power.
Those near the victims and the few survivors have blamed Russian authorities, however the Kremlin has routinely denied involvement.
There even have been reports of outstanding Russian executives dying under mysterious circumstances, including falling from windows, although whether or not they were deliberate killings or suicides is typically difficult to find out.
Putin’s worries appear to be exacerbated as peace talks have gotten increasingly difficult.
Today, Russia and Ukraine have accused one another of breaking the terms of a tentative US-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said Ukrainian drone attacks hit an electrical facility within the Bryansk region early on Wednesday and an influence grid facility within the Kursk region on Tuesday, resulting in an influence cut affecting hundreds of individuals.
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