Moscow: ‘Depressed’ Vladimir Putin is sent to hold a nuclear evacuation drill with the Kremlins’ doomsday plane.

Russia suffered heavily due to war and its casualties in the Ukraine war is higher than what Kyiv estimated. Russian casualties are more than 17,000 in 23 days of the war.

Even serious questions have been raised over the health and mental state of Russia's president

Fears of nuclear conflict increased when he threatened NATO with 'consequences' if it intervened in the war, and put his nuclear forces on standby

Sources says that Putin has moved his family to a secret location that is not just a bunker, but a huge underground city, in order to keep them safe from potential nuclear fallout.

Sources maintained that Putin is suffering from multiple and serious medical problems. Putin 'often pours his anger out on those close to him,' the latest account said from the source - a Telegram channel supposedly linked to an ex-Kremlin intelligence insider who claims to retain close links to those in Putin's circle.

'He has no deep conversations with almost anyone, and limited contact even with his children - not only his daughters but also his [undisclosed] children with [Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast, 38] Alina Kabaeva', Daily Mail reported.

Putin has instructed his top generals recently by demanding a nuclear drill be undertaken, increasing fears he is preparing for a nuclear conflict.

Putin previously threatened NATO allies with 'consequences greater than any you have faced in history' should they intervene in the Ukraine conflict, and placed Russia's nuclear forces on high alert earlier this month.

On Saturday, Russia launched its 'unstoppable' nuclear-capable Kinzhal hypersonic missile, destroying a military storage facility in Ukraine.

In a recent post, the Telegram channel General SVR said that senior political figures 'were warned on behalf of the president that, perhaps in the near future, they will participate in practicing evacuation in case of a nuclear war. However, the ultramodern bunker in the sky is not believed to be ready yet.

The channel also said: 'The general mental state of Vladimir Putin has recently caused alarm among people in the president's inner circle.'

Repeating earlier claims about his alleged condition - previous dismissed by the Kremlin - the post said: Daily Mail report stated that 'When Vladimir Putin, who suffers from oncology, Parkinson's disease and schizoaffective disorder, invites members of the government and the heads of the State Duma and the Federation Council [the lower and upper houses of parliament] to take part in preparing for evacuation in case of a nuclear war… it becomes not fun at all'

The windowless Il-80 is Putin's so-called Doomsday plane, designed to act as a Kremlin in the sky in the event of a nuclear attack.

Putin would be able to rule Russia and issue commands to his military from the airborne command post in the event of a full-scale war. This includes the ability to order a nuclear strike.

The crown jewel of the Il-80’s equipment is known as Zveno-S, which includes an advanced communications suite that uses satellite antennas housed on top in a large oval-shaped pod towards the front of the plane.

According to Daily Mail reports, Two more large pods - attached under the wings - each carry a turbine engine that services as an additional power supply source for the on-board equipment.

There is also a special very low frequency (VLF) antenna system used for communicating with submarines carrying ballistic missiles.

Il-80s were first flown in 1987 and an upgrade programme was launched in 2008, in which the second version of Zveno-S was introduced to at least two of the planes.

It names ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, who now has a security role, along with the speakers of the two houses of parliament - Vyacheslav Volodin and Valentina Matviyenko - as among those allegedly

Earlier reports have said Putin had moved unidentified members of his immediate family either to a luxury mountain villa in neutral Switzerland, or to a hi-tech underground bunker in the Altai Mountains of Siberia, Daily Mail report says.

Political scientist Valery Solovey, 61, linked to the Telegram channel, said earlier this month: 'In fact, it is not a bunker, but a whole underground city, equipped with the latest science and technology.'

He did not identify Putin's family members but previously alleged Kabaeva is his secret spouse, and Russia's hidden first lady. 'This is his real family, and Alina is capable of influencing his decisions,' Solovey said last year, says Daily Mail report.