A paranoid Vladimir Putin spends his nights holed up in the Kremlin as fears for his safety soar, it has been claimed. The Russian President has blocked mobile internet across Moscow amid concerns his enemies have hacked his vast state surveillance apparatus, including CCTV cameras.

A similar breach of security led to the assassination of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran last month. “According to sources, Putin himself has been spending much more time in the Kremlin — including overnight stays,” reported Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, with security service links, and Rucriminal website.

He also blocked the Telegram messenger on Russia’s frontline in Ukraine, even though it is a key means of communication for his troops. Russian troops have already lost the Starlink satellite internet connection.

People in Moscow, home to roughly 13 million people, have found themselves unable to pay online bills, message co-workers or book taxis.

Others have been forced to ask strangers for directions after being unable to access online maps, while remote workers have filled cafes in a desperate bid to find a stable Wi-Fi connection.

This has been the case in regions across Russia for several months, with the Kremlin defending the shut-offs as necessary to protect Russians from attacks by Ukrainian drones, which can use local cellphone towers for navigation.

In recent days, Putin has been holding secret meetings in his Kremlin hideout, which are not reported to Russians, according to VChK-OGPU.

Armed Federal Security Service officers and vehicles armed with electronic warfare equipment to suppress drones were seen around the Kremlin amid the new clampdown.

Officers have even been posted on Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin’s mausoleum on Red Square, reported VChK-OGPU.