Russian President Vladimir Putin survived an assassination attempt about two months ago, soon after his invasion of Ukraine began Feb. 24, Ukraine's top military intelligence official said Monday.
Putin was "attacked," according to Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, "by representatives of the Caucasus," a region that includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of southern Russia, the Daily Mail reported.
"Absolutely unsuccessful attempt, but it really happened," Budanov said. "It was about two months ago. I repeat, this attempt was unsuccessful. There was no publicity about this event, but it took place."
Putin has had hunkered down amid reported health issues and fears of a potential coup. American lawmakers such as Sen. Lindsey Graham on Newsmax have said someone should rise up against Putin, saying the world is safer without him in power.
Putin has claimed he has escaped numerous assassination attempts, but the Ukraine intel chief's statement is the first confirmed knowledge of one outside of Russia's sphere of influence.
A former British Army chief said NATO should not rule out a strike on Putin to help save lives amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"NATO should consider all options to remove him from power," Col. Richard Kemp said in March, according to the report. "That would include killing him although it is not likely to be viable or desirable."
The attempts on Putin's life as Russian president have been a long-running issue. Putin told filmmaker Oliver Stone in the documentary "The Putin Interviews" that there have been five assassination attempts on him before 2017.
Putin credited his ability to skirt danger by taking charge of his own security team.
"I do my job and the security officers do theirs and they are still performing quite successfully," Putin told Stone.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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