That doesn’t seem likely to be true, or that it would even accomplish anything…

Russian agencies are not capable of these 3D chess anymore, and even if they were they would not take down Russian TV (the main method of public influence) the way this article does and reveal tons of details about special comms for a very questionable win. Everyone already knows Putin is a recluse so the "our spies lied to me" card can be played without this extra carnival

Why would Putin have to explain/lie about his decisions in a new way?

Nothing in the piece makes a case for that at all.

The agent says Putin lives in a bit of an information bubble but also repeatedly says he’s solely responsible for the war.

If this guy is a plant… then his FSB handlers really screwed up!