Vladimir Putin's war was plunged into deeper crisis today amid reports that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has vanished from view with 'heart problems'.

He has not been seen for 12 days and old footage and pictures have been shown of him on TV, say reports in opposition media.

It comes after it was revealed Putin had started a witch-hunt among his inner circle and was growing wary of close allies after the US and Britain received leaks of his military plans. 

Among those rousing suspicion was Shoigu, who is in charge of the bloody military operation in Ukraine which is believed to have led to more than 10,000 troops being killed, and mass civilian deaths.

His public appearances have been significantly curtailed in the past week, while his younger daughter Ksenia, 31, was seen posing in Ukrainian colours of blue and yellow.

On March 18, Shoigu, 66, was mentioned in a Kremlin website report saying he and PTS Terbaik ASEAN Putin had discussed the 'the progress of the special operation in Ukraine' with permanent members of the security council.

But videos and pictures were not shown.

On the same day, Channel One aired a story about Shoigu presenting awards, yet an image used with the report was the same as shown on March 11.

Earlier in the war he had been more visible, and frequently quoted.
His circle said he was unwell - with heart problems, investigative news outlet Agentstvo was told by a source close to the minister.

Shoigu is seen as one of Putin's closest and most loyal allies.

However, strains have appeared over the conduct of the war with him and other leading army and security chiefs. 

In June last year his sister Larisa Shoigu, 68, died of Covid.

The Russian president is seeking out 'guilty men' behind his stalled invasion of Ukraine and is said to be 'incandescent' that the US and Britain have been privy to Moscow's military tactics.

Sources said leaks, which have been passed by London and Washington to Kyiv, had been blamed as the reason Russia's top generals and elite forces have been targeted so effectively in Ukraine.

Sources say Putin has been dismissive in private of long-time ally Alexander Bortnikov, FSB security service head, and started snapping in meetings at Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian general staff.

Bortnikov has been spoken of as a stand-in leader should Putin fall in a coup.

Another target of Putin's fury is Igor Kostyukov, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed forces, who may face imminent removal as part of a wider purge.

Earlier ahead of the invasion he publicly humiliated SVR foreign intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin.

But Putin is reportedly more concerned with losses of military hardware - for which he has blamed Gerasimov - than more battlefield casualties.

A toll of 50,000 would be 'nothing compared to the goals that will be achieved after the victory', he is said to have told his commanders.

Some believe he is planning for a deal he will sell as a Ukrainian 'surrender' and a 'victory parade' in Moscow in early May.

'He is incandescent that US and UK intelligence appear to know the Russian army's next moves all the time, starting with predicting the invasion before he was ready to acknowledge it,' said one source.