Putin at the ready for a military challenge

A military challenge has become a possibility in Russia with much discontent over poor conditions and planned personnel cuts in the Russian armed forces.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is feeling the heat from disgruntled servicemen who have appealed to Russian opposition groups for the first time since Putin appeared as the power behind Russia in 2000.

Resentment has been obvious in the military since the government unveiled plans to sack 200,000 officers.

For nine years, Putin has enjoyed the full backing of the Russian military, having poured money into the armed forces, but a military upset could become apparent at the Kremlin, where insiders have spoken of a power struggle between Putin and his one-time protege, President Dmitry Medvedev.

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