Russian President Vladimir Putin escaped an assassination attempt, according to a Ukrainian military officer.

The revelation comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as well as speculation over Mr Putin’s health.

The “unsuccessful” effort, according to Major General Kyrylo Budanov, commander of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, took place in the Caucasus, a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, immediately after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

He told Ukrainska Pravda about the event.

“There was an attempt to assassinate Putin… He was even attacked, it is said, by representatives of the Caucasus, not so long ago,” Mr Budanov was cited as saying by the Ukrainian source.

“This is non-public information. (It was an) absolutely unsuccessful attempt, but it really happened… It was about 2 months ago, “he added.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, the whole interview with Mr. Budanov will air on Tuesday.

The assertion has not been independently verified, but it comes weeks after claims that Mr Putin had surgery to drain fluid from his belly.

The operation “went well and without complications,” according to the Express story, which credited the intelligence to Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Telegram channel General SVR.

Furthermore, an oligarch with deep links to Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have said, “Putin is very ill with blood cancer.”

Mr Budanov predicted earlier this month in an interview with Sky News that the Ukraine war would reach a turning point by mid-August and be ended by the end of the year, resulting in a change of leadership in Russia.

He further said that a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking place and that it cannot be halted.

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