In a purging move by the embattled world leader, heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Drug Control Service and the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation lost their jobs.

The dismissals, reported exclusively by Euromaidan Press, are said to have been carried out in secret.

While no official announcement appears to have been made by Mr Putin, reporters have posted links to the Kremlin’s official website – which can be translated into English – that show a list of staff “released” from their posts.

The move is understood to have been made on Wednesday, 6 August, but has not been reported in any of the mainstream media, either at home or abroad.

A number of high ranking military personnel are included among the 18 named.

The dismissals are laid out in two decrees. One has the rather abstruse title: “On the appointment, removal from office or dismissal from military service military personnel and employees of some federal government agencies.”

A screen-grab from the Kremlin's official website which lists some of those "released" from their posts

The other is titled: “On the dismissal of employees of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation."

Euromaiden Press is a subsidiary of Euromaidan PR. The company’s Twitter profile declares its actions to be on behalf of the headquarters of the National Resistance of Ukraine.

It claims to have been established to “share the truth of on events in Ukraine to the rest of the world” and provide “reliable information on events” there.

A screen-grab from the Kremlin's official website which seems to show the dismissals
Euromaidan was the name given to the wave of demonstrations which began in the Ukraine in November last year and contributed to the on-going civil unrest within the country.

The movement was supportive of closer integration with Europe as opposed to strengthening ties with neighbouring Russia.