The Russian agency FSB confirmed that during the 9 May military parades, Putin was certainly wearing a bullet-proof vest. The agency, however, played down the situation suggesting this was a normal level of security precaution.
The Moscow Times cited experts who believe Putin has been wearing a bullet-proof vest in public since last year.
Putin's hold on power has periodically been questioned since the beginning of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, most spectacularly in the infighting connected to the Wagner Group:
Some experts, such as Chicago Professor John Mearscheimer in this interview for The Spectator, warn that Putin's demise might not lead to a softening of the Kremlin's approach - even the opposite.
Sources: PAP, The Spectator
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