’Paranoid & sick’ Putin is trapped in ‘spider web of lies’ says former Russian MP

A man who has fought Vladimir Putin from both inside the Kremlin and in exile knows a thing or two about the tyrant who rules like a “mafia boss” but thinks like a spy.  Ilya Ponomarev, a former Russian MP and leader of Russian armed resistance, revealed to The Sun that the despot is far from the all-powerful ruler he tries to be - and that he is trapped at “the centre of a spider’s web”. The Russian renegade, 48, was a member of the Russian State Duma from 2007 until 2016 when “under personal order’s from Putin” he was suddenly exiled from Russia. Now on the outside, he heads a resistance network of pro-Ukrainian guerrilla fighters and helps lead a Russian shadow cabinet forming in Kyiv to prepare for Putin’s “inevitable” demise. Continue reading: The Sun delivers breaking news, latest gossip and incredible exclusives around the world with hubs in London, New York, Scotland and Ireland. Covering topics from news, money and sport along with our famous Fabulous Magazine, The Sun is the biggest newsbrand in the UK and one of the fastest growing news sites in the US. Stay tuned for video clips across the biggest news stories and segments from The Sun’s expert journalists. Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know. Read The Sun: Like The Sun on Facebook: Follow The Sun on X: Follow The Sun on TikTok: @thesun Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: #ukraine #russia #putin