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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
Michelle Cullen

Russia's Kremlin 'under attack' as protester hurls 'fire bomb' at Vladimir Putin's headquarters

News outlets have reported that the Kremlin is under attack after video footage emerged on social media showing a man throwing a petrol bomb at the home of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The video posted on TikTok shows a figure throwing a homemade 'Molotov cocktail' at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday.

The bomb appears to hit the walls of the Government building, and small fires are seen at the base.

READ MORE: Ryan Tubridy hits out at Vladimir Putin for 'out of touch' lifestyle after honeymoon story

It is understood Putin has lived in the palace since last year.

However, there have been reports he has taken up residence in his various other luxurious properties since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, although the Kremlin had historically been the home to Russian leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Governor of Russia's Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region Dmitry Artyukhov at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2022. (Photo by Mikhail Klimentyev / Sputnik / AFP) (Photo by MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) (gettyimages.ie)

The man seen in the footage, who threw the explosive, has not been identified.

Given that the explosive was targeted at the outer walls of the Kremlin, the act was unlikely an attempted assassination but rather a demonstration, presumably against the invasion of Ukraine.

However, Putin has faced numerous assassination attempts in the past.

Asked about this by US documentary maker Oliver Stone in 2017, the Russian President expressed little sign of worry.

Instead, he told of a Russian saying: "They say that those who are destined to be hanged are not going to drown."

Putin added: "Only God knows our destiny – yours and mine."

The demonstration outside the Kremlin has come amid increasing pressure on Russia as a result of Western sanctions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow was not prepared for the "thievery" of sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.

He said: "When they [froze] the central bank reserves, nobody who was predicting what sanctions the West would pass could have pictured that. It's just thievery."

Putin suffered another blow today when one of his key allies reportedly stepped down from his role and left Russia over the invasion.

Anatoly Chubais's reported departure has been touted as the "highest-level official to break with the Kremlin over the invasion" to date.

It is possible this could boost the confidence of other Russian officials against the ongoing action in Ukraine to make their positions clear.

READ MORE: Russia takes aim at new country as Ukraine war rages on

READ MORE: Putin's coverup exposed as 'real' Russian death toll leaked

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