Russian President Vladimir Putin is reported to have moved his family to an "underground city" in Siberia as his invasion of Ukraine continues.
According to one Russian professor, his family has been taken to a luxury high-tech bunker in the Altai Mountains designed to withstand a nuclear war.
Professor Valery Solovey, 61, formerly a professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, made the claims this week.
The comments come as the Russian invasion of Ukraine is in its seventh day, with some 136 Ukrainian citizens killed and a large convoy of troops just kilometres away from Kyiv.
Prof Solovey is known for his colourful predictions and claims, previously alleging that Putin is suffering from a secret illness, while many have described him as a conspiracy theorist or hoaxer, as the Express reports.
He was interrogated for seven hours by Russian authorities last week due to allegations he made about Putin's medical and mental condition on a Telegram site he operates, according to the Daily Mail.
In a video shared via East2West, Prof Solovey said: "At the weekend, President Putin's family was evacuated to a special bunker prepared in case of nuclear war.
"This bunker is located in the [mountainous] Altai Republic.
"In fact, it is not a bunker, but a whole underground city, equipped with the latest science and technology.
"I hope this means something to you?
"That the President sends his family to this bunker."
He is believed to be referring to a sprawling mountain home built by majority state-owned energy company Gazprom some ten years ago.
It is located in the Ongudaysky district of the Altai Republic, a region of Siberia bordering Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan.
According to the Mail, observers have noted "multiple ventilation points" in the grounds surrounding the hideout.
There is also said to be a high voltage line linked to a modern 110 kilovolt substation — enough to power a small city.
Prof Solovey failed to identify any of Putin's family members that he claims have travelled to the bunker.
