A number of former close allies of Vladimir Putin have suffered grisly ends - with some seemingly totally disappearing from public eye.
It comes after Putin has lost his eighth general fighting in Ukraine, in another major blow to his war effort.
Major General Vladimir Frolov, deputy commander of the 8th Combined Arms Army, was laid to rest with full military honours in St Petersburg.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a total of around 21,000 Russian soldiers have died.
After withdrawing from the north of Ukraine, Russian troops are now believed to be starting a new offensive in the east in what is being called the "Battle of Donbas".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address, said: "A very large part of the entire Russian army is now focused on this offensive."
As sources claim Putin is growing increasingly frustrated at setbacks to invasion plans, here we look at a number of top officials in his regime who have been found dead, disappeared or arrested.
Sergei Shoigu
The mystery has deepened over Vladimir Putin's "missing" defence minister after his daughter shared a heartfelt message saying she was "proud" of him.
General Sergei Shoigu, 66, has been sidelined by the Russia president over war failures, some sources have said.
Others claim Shoigu suffered a “massive heart attack”, with a leading Putin foe even suggesting it was not from natural causes.
While further reports said Putin ordered him to operate from a nuclear bunker in Russia's Ural Mountains.
Vladislav Avayev
The bodies of multimillionaire Vladislav Avayev, his wife Yelena and their 13-year-old daughter were found by his older daughter Anastasia in the 14th floor apartment complex.
He, as well as Yelena, 47, and Maria, 13, all had gunshot wounds.
Avayev previously worked as a high-flying executive at Gazprombank, a key part of Vladimir Putin’s gas-for-roubles scheme to hit back at Western sanctions.
A total of 13 weapons were found in the luxury flat, which had been locked from the inside, according to Anastasia.
Russian intelligence has started an investigation into the deaths with early reports suggesting it was a double murder and suicide.
Sergei Beseda
Col-General Sergei Beseda, 68, head of the 5th Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB), was placed under house arrest.
He has now been placed in pre-trial detention in notorious Lefortovo Prison, suggesting he will face major charges for intelligence failings, it is claimed.
The move will be seen as a warning to other senior Putin aides who are expected to take the blame for the huge Russian death toll in Ukraine.
Beseda's case is being investigated by the Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee, said Russian intelligence expert Andrei Soldatov, who revealed the Lefortovo move.
The official who was in charge of FSB intelligence and political subversion in the ex-USSR, had been on a trip to Ukraine shortly before he was detained.
Putin is said to fear that moles leaked invasion plans to the West, and Beseda was detained along with his deputy Anatoly Bolyukh, but had been held under house arrest until now.
Roman Gavrilov
In March, General Roman Gavrilov, the deputy chief of Russia 's Rosgvardia unit, which was the spearhead of the first push into Ukrainian territory, was arrested by the feared Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation,
According to Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian investigative journalist, the reason for the arrest is unclear. He cites a course which says he was detained over "leaks of military info that led to loss of life", while two others say it was "wasteful squandering of fuel".
Taken together the reports suggest various officials are challenging Putin, as sanctions from The West begin to bite in Russia.
Vladislav Surkov
Reports from Moscow claim the Putin's former aide Vladislav Surkov is being held under house arrest as part of a massive criminal probe which has also arrested around 150 Russian security agents.
The probe is investigating the alleged £4billion embezzlement by security services to try and create a network of undercover intelligence officers in Ukraine.
Former deputy prime minister Surkov is widely credited with keeping Putin in power.
Surkov is said to have created opposing political parties, which were in reality run by the Kremlin.
He also founded Nashi, similar to the Hitler Youth in Germany, whose members would beat up supporters of those same parties.
Last year Surkov told the Financial Times : "People need [propaganda]. Most people need their heads to be filled with thoughts.
"You are not going to feed people with some highly intellectual discourse. Most people eat simple foods... Generally, most people consume very simple-meaning beliefs.
"This is normal. There is haute cuisine, and there is McDonald's."
The former Putin aide reportedly encouraged the Russian president to believe Ukraine was not a real country, and called for Russia to annexe Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as well.
