 The Russian National Guard can oust Putin from power. President Putin wants to turn Russia's National Guard into his own army for domestic use, a top Kiev official has claimed, according to the Kiev Post. Mykhailo Podoliak, chief advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office, said Putin was severely weakened by the aborted Wagner coup against the Kremlin and is now taking steps to shore up his power. After Prigoshin's foiled riot, Putin proved that he is not a Tsar, but a jester, a coward, unable of decision making, tending to flee. He said on the telephone in comments reported by Espresso TV, Russia doesn't love him anymore. That's it, Putin's no longer sacred. Podoliak said that eventually the move would backfire and the National Guard could turn against the Russian leader because people in Russia love a strong Tsar. He added this would not happen immediately as at the moment a political group has not been formed that could seize power and replace Putin. Podoliak's assessment comes after Russian lawmakers passed a bill that would allow its National Guard to deploy heavy weapons, including tanks, on the streets of the country in the wake of the short-lived insurrection by the mercenary group Wagner. Since it was formed in 2016 as a means of controlling and stopping public demonstrations, the National Guard's role has since taken on a broader remit, including participation in Moscow's full-scale war on Ukraine. According to the legislation passed by parliament's lower house, the force, which answers directly to Putin, will be able to be armed with military-grade weapons, including heavy weapons.