It will be interesting to see, in the years ahead, who was behind these killings. I have a different interpretation than you. Various factions are jockeying for power. I don't believe Putin has the political capital to "suggest" that people disappear. I don't believe he ever did that explicitly anyway.

If you want an opening in the "regime" no better time to make it for yourself in the fog of war ;) Or if you just want to weaken Putin by fueling his parnoia. From Siberian mafia interests, to the CIA, MI5, Ukraine. It's a long, long list of people who want the Putin regime picked apart by any means necessary.

Loving your stories.