Could he be overthrown? Tyrant fought tyrant a little over a week ago, after the leader of Putin's Wagner Group launched a failed coup. The rebellion may have failed, but some think Putin's days are numbered.
On the brink: the world’s most dangerous man
Kremlin tremblin’: Some think Putin’s total 24 years of rule will soon be brought to an end. Glossary
Dissidents - People who publicly disagree with or criticise an authority or government, especially an oppressive one.
Siberia - A northern region of Russia, known for its harsh winters. It has a long history as a place of exile for criminals and political prisoners.
Apocalypse - A Christian name for the end of the world. Descended from a Greek word meaning uncover, it was used to describe the Biblical book of Revelation.
Putin - Vladimir Putin — Russia’s ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Ally - A country that has agreed to support another one.
Yevgeny Prigozhin - A Russian oligarch and leader of the Wagner Group, a group of mercenary soldiers. He launched a failed coup against Russian president Vladimir Putin in June 2023.
Coup - When an individual or group takes control of government by illegal means, including by violence.
Pretender - Somebody who pretends to be something they are not. A pretender to the throne claims to be the rightful ruler of a nation.
Superstition - A belief or practice that is not entirely based on facts or reality.
Anarchy - A situation in which there are no rulers. The term can be used to describe complete political chaos or mob rule, but those who call themselves anarchists generally believe in mutual aid and cooperation, not a war of all-against-all.
Emphysema - A lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe.
Soviet Union - Officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.
Oligarch - After the collapse of the Soviet Union, most of the country’s economy fell into the hands of corrupt businessmen who became known as oligarchs.
Ruble - The Russian currency. It was the first currency in Europe to be decimalised, in 1704.
Sanctions - Economic measures designed to punish a country, for instance by excluding it from trade.