Vladimir Putin is poised to axe FSB spymaster Alexander Bortnikov as scapegoat for his failing war.
Sources say the move could be seen as an attempt to pin the blame on the dictator's failing war against Ukraine or even to prevent a possible coup.
But there are also claims that Bortnikov, head of the FSB, the Federal Security Service, has pleaded with Putin to allow him to retire and has been previously refused.
