The independent Russian outlet Meduza reported that a list of possible successors to Russian President Vladimir Putin is being discussed by Kremlin insiders.
Meduza reported that the impact of Western sanctions and the cost of the war in Ukraine have crippled Russia's economy.
According to Meduza, political elites are talking about the future after Putin more than before.
It is not that they want to overthrow Putin right now, or that they are planning a conspiracy, but there is an understanding that he won't be governing the state in the foreseeable future.
The president messed up, but he might still fix it later, according to another source.
According to Meduza, a list of potential successors to Putin is being discussed in secret, with officials floating Mayor Sergey Sobyanin of Moscow, National Security Council Deputy Chairman and former President Dmitry Medvedev, and First Deputy Chief of Staff Sergey Kiriyenko as possible candidates.
Meduza reported that Russia's elites understand that the only realistic way to get Putin out of office is to wait for a major health issue.
People are disgusted, but they are still at their jobs, helping to put the country on a war footing, a source told the outlet.
There have been rumors for weeks that Putin is sick.
The film director Oliver Stone, who has interviewed Putin several times, said that Putin previously had cancer but recovered, according to New Lines magazine. Russian sources have told Christopher Steele that Putin is dying.
Western officials have largely poured cold water on those rumors, with one saying earlier this week: "My observation is that at the moment President Putin is firmly in control of his inner circle, the country, and the decisions which are being made, regardless of any speculation about his." The decision-maker is still President Putin.
A source close to the Kremlin told Meduza that most people are not happy with Putin. The president started this war without considering the scale of the sanctions. Normal life under these sanctions is impossible.
According to two sources with ties to the Kremlin, Putin is hesitant to acknowledge the economic difficulties caused by the war in Ukraine.
According to Meduza, there are some people in the Kremlin who think that Russia has gone past the point of no return with Ukraine.
Since we are entangled there already, there is no going soft. A source told the outlet that we need to go even harder.
Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a defense ministry spokesman, said Tuesday that Russia's military had entered its most active phase in recent days.
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