Putin WON'T survive the war: Senior officials are in 'active discussions' about who will replace him says Ukraine's spy chief as mock headstone for Russian leader appears and nuclear plant again becomes missile target
- Vladimir Putin could be toppled by the end of the war in Ukraine, the country's intelligence chief has said
- Major General Kyrylo Budanov claimed there were 'active discussions' in Russia about replacing Putin
- Ukrainian forces are continue to push Putin's army back in the east of the country, and could retake Kherson
- Fears are growing about Russia's plans for Europe's nuclear plant, which it has occupied since March
By ALASTAIR LOCKHART FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:01 AEDT, 29 October 2022 | UPDATED: 23:15 AEDT, 29 October 2022
Vladimir Putin may not last to the end of the war in Ukraine as his forces suffer in the east of the country, Ukraine's spy chief has said.
The top Ukrainian official said there were 'active discussions' going on inside Russia about how Putin could be deposed as the country's ruling class grow frustrated with his invasion of Ukraine and he appears increasingly weak.
Russian forces are currently fleeing parts of eastern Ukraine as Ukrainian forces continue their huge counteroffensive, with a focus on recapturing the city of Kherson.
Ukrainian soldiers have openly mocked Putin as they regain territory his forces took early in the war. A fake gravestone for the Russian leader has even been put up in the Donetsk region as his army continues to suffer setbacks.
There have also been fears about Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been damaged by missile attacks.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's head of intelligence, said he believed Kherson could be retaken by the end of November.
Ukraine's spy chief has claimed Vladimir Putin could be ousted from power before the end of the war as senior officials in Russia move against him
Ukraine has been pushing back against Russia with a counteroffensive in the south and east of the country in recent weeks. Pictured: A drone strike in Crimea
Ukraine's army has been focusing its efforts on regaining territory lost at the start of the war. Pictured: Ukraine launches missiles against Russian forces
ne, the spy chief also said pushing Russian forces back to Ukraine's 1991 borders - the year it won its independence - would create 'a good opportunity to end the war.'
He even claimed this could happen as early as next year.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's head of intelligence, said he believed Kherson could be retaken by the end of November
Ukrainian troops have mocked Putin by putting up a fake gravestone of the Russian leader at a military checkpoint in Donetsk
Maj Gen Budanov added Putin was likely to be toppled by the war he started when he invaded Ukraine in February this year.
He said: 'It's unlikely that he survives it. And currently, there's active discussions happening in Russia about who'd be there to replace him.'
The intelligence boss also said the sustained attack by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure was damagin but not 'critical'.
He also refused to confirm or deny whether Ukraine had been behind the devastating attack on the Kerch bridge - the only bridge between Russia and Crimea which is vital for Russian supply lines.
Massive explosions hit key naval port Sevastopol in Crimea that Russia says is being targeted in major Ukraine drone assault
By Arthur Parashar and Will Stewart for MailOnline
Massive explosions have been seen hitting a key naval port in annexed Crimea that Russia claim was targeted in a major Ukrainian drone assault.
Russian Black Sea warships were reportedly having to fight the attack off in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea which was annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
According to Ukrainian sources, several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up.
Local media are reporting that rescuers this morning are still attempting to put out a fire on one of the ships.
Residents claimed that the huge explosions 'shook' their homes and windows while black smoke was seen rising from the docks area.
Dramatic footage purportedly showed a Moscow attack helicopter destroying an 'underwater drone' in Omega Bay.
The video showed the helicopter hovering above the object in the water before it bursts into flames with smoke billowing out of it.
Residents claimed that the huge explosions 'shook' their homes and windows while black smoke was seen rising from the docks area
Dramatic footage showed a Moscow attack helicopter destroying an 'underwater drone' in Omega Bay
The underwater object thought to be a drone was said to be tailing a warship before it was reportedly destroyed by the Russian helicopter.
Missiles were fired from the helicopter which also unleashed volleys of machine gun fire.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian governor of Sevastopol, said there was no damage to city infrastructure.
'Black Sea Fleet ships are fighting off a drone attack in Sevastopol Bay.' he said.
'No damage has been reported in the city. The situation is under control. All response services are at the ready.'
A student dormitory at an art college near the port saw 'one windowpane burst' but 'no harm was done', he added.
Russian sources claimed its air defenced deployed from naval warships were forced to repel a sustained Ukrainian attack that started at 4.30am and lasted for at least five hours.
The Kremlin has also blamed a US Global Hawk (RQ-4B) which 'flew from Italy' for flying over the Black Sea and monitoring Russian responses to the concerted Ukrainian onslaught.
All passenger ferry services were suspended in the strategic port which is the HQ of Putin's Black Sea Fleet.
According to Ukrainian sources, several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up
Local media are reporting that rescuers this morning are still attempting to put out a fire on one of the ships
Plumes of smoke were visible after reports of Ukrainian drone strikes in the middle of the night
Massive explosions have been seen hitting a key naval port in annexed Crimea that Russia claim was targeted in a major Ukrainian drone assault
Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian governor of Sevastopol, said: 'No damage has been reported in the city.
It marks what could be the most audacious attack so far by Ukraine on Russian naval assets in Sevastopol.
Earlier this week, Razvozhayev said that a drone had attacked a thermal power station near Sevastopol.
Meanwhile, the Russian fleet stationed in the port had also been attacked by a drone in July.
So far, attempts to verify Razvozhayev's claims that no damage has been done have been unsuccessful.
The Russian statesman begged locals not to post footage of the attacks, claiming that it could aid the Kyiv regime.
'A big request is not to write what-where-how much you saw and heard,' he posted.
'And do not upload videos. It should be clear to everyone that such data is very necessary for the UkroNazis in order to understand how the defence of our city is arranged.'
However, this did not fail to prevent residents reporting the explosions that unfolded in the middle of the nights.
One resident reported: 'Woke up at 4 a.m. to a massive explosion. Thank goodness it's [our] air defences.
Earlier this week, Razvozhayev (pictured) said that a drone had attacked a thermal power station near Sevastopol
Russia also blamed a US Global Hawk (RQ-4B) which 'flew from Italy' for flying over the Black Sea and monitoring Russian responses to the concerted Ukrainian onslaught
'Our ships in Sevastopol Bay were repelling a drone attack.
'It was a fun night, even very fun.'
Another stated: 'Woke up to an explosion at 5:30am. Followed some time later by three more…'.
A third added: 'Ten minutes ago three explosions sounded, and shook the house…'
Meanwhile, another comment said: 'Woke up this morning to explosions.
'Never heard anything like that before. It thundered so hard that the windows shook in the flat.'
The attack comes as Russia appears to have largely given up attacking Ukraine and has been forced on to the defensive after Putin's military got mauled by Kyiv's armies.
Russian troops have been forced on to the defensive across almost the entire frontline in Ukraine after Putin's army was mauled, British intelligence said yesterday
Severely undermanned and poorly trained Russian units have stopped advancing across most of the front line in the last six weeks, British intelligence said yesterday.
Ukrainian forces advance in both the north and south of the country - pushing east from Kharkiv into Luhansk and advancing towards Kherson.
In Kherson, companies of soldiers which should consist of 100 men were fighting with just six to eight troops each, Ministry of Defence analysts added.
While Putin is attempting to bolster these units with conscripted troops, Russia is unlikely to be able to resume its offensive in the near future.
Earlier this week, it had appeared that Russia was preparing to withdraw from Kherson city but Ukraine now believes Putin is actually reinforcing it.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, said earlier this week that Russia has been evacuating civilians but is moving military reinforcements into urban areas, preparing defences, and plans to fight for the city.
He added that the evacuation and talk of a retreat by Russia's top commander may have been an effort to lure Ukraine into a costly urban battle.
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Putin WON'T survive the war as officials discuss who will replace him says Ukraine's spy chief
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