As Putin turns 70, former Russia insider weighs in on likelihood of nuclear move

As Putin turns 70, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, author of "The Russia Conundrum" warns that Putin is part of a 'gangster entourage,' and warns that Putin is being egged on by extremist forces.

"If the armed forces of Ukraine continue to win, the threat to the lives of Putin’s entourage will become so great that they may actually try to reduce this threat, by forcing Putin to leave," Khodorkovsky tells Fox News. "This is an option. Putin understands this and in fact, he is very afraid of this." What is new for Putin’s people, however, is the possible specter of an even uglier war. And the understanding that if Putin matches words to deeds, they all may be going down. Amy Kellogg currently serves as a correspondent based in Milan. She joined FOX News Channel (FNC) in 1999 as a Moscow-based correspondent. Follow her on Twitter: @amykelloggfox

"What Putin is doing now, threatening the use of nuclear weapons, losing the war, this insane mobilization—this tells these people that by remaining in power Putin poses a threat not only to them and their lives, which many of them have already accepted, but it is a threat to their children and their families."

Khodorkovsky, the former owner of oil giant Yukos and once believed to be Russia’s richest man, was sent to jail in Siberia for 10 years in 2003 after he began publicly talking about corruption. Putin had made it clear early in his administration that the oligarchs could keep their wealth if they kept silent.