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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Chris Hughes

Vladimir Putin’s regime crumbling as spies defect and Russia keeps relatives 'hostage'

More than 20 Russian diplomats and spies have defected since the invasion of Ukraine in a sign Vladimir Putin’s flailing regime faces collapse over the war, the Mirror can reveal.

The unprecedented swapping of sides has spurred the tyrant to put “Stalinist” restrictions on foreign postings.

Most of Moscow’s officials on foreign missions now have to accept family members being left at home during their posting, effectively kept hostage.

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