Vladimir Putin stripped of honorary titles as sanctions continue to rain down on Russia

The brutal global pile-on against Vladimir Putin has continued to damage the Russian leader, but this may have hit him where it hurts.

A global push to isolate Russia as it wages war on Ukraine has continued as millions of innocent residents across the European country wake up to a sixth day of conflict.

Australia, US and the UK have slapped harsh sanctions on the invading superpower while a growing list of major companies have cut ties in a bid to cripple Russia’s economy.

Putin came out swinging on Monday, claiming the “illegal” global pile-on is hitting him below the belt as Russia continues to progress through Ukraine.

But the latest move to condemn Putin may just hit him where it hurts most: his ego.

Putin has spent much of his time in the public eye branding himself as Russia’s “tough guy”, posing for shirtless PR shots while riding horses, hunting and participating in martial arts.

But the World Taekwondo Federation has moved against the 69-year-old, stripping him of his honorary 9th dan black belt, which he received in November 2013 shortly before Russia made its first move on Crimea.

According to the martial arts authority, Putin’s latest military action, which has now seen the death of thousands as fighting continues near Ukraine’s major cities, goes “against the World Taekwondo vision of ‘Peace is More Precious than Triumph’ and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance”.

The Federation also announced it would extend its sanctions to Belarus, which has pledged support to Russia by allowing troops enter Ukraine through its southern border.

“In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th dan black belt conferred to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013,” a statement released on Tuesday read.

“In solidarity with the International Olympic Committee, no Russian or Belarusian national flags or anthems will be displayed or played at World Taekwondo events.”

"World Taekwondo’s thoughts are with the people of Ukraine," the Federation continued, urging world leaders to bring about a "peaceful and immediate end" to the spiralling disaster.

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Vladimir Putin has been stripped of his honorary taekwondo black belt.

The decision came immediately after the International Judo Federation also suspended Putin from his role as its Honorary President and Ambassador, a position he had held for over 14 years.

Putin had previously worked with the Federation to produce an instructional DVD titled “Let’s Learn Judo with Vladimir Putin”, including a book which was “distributed to millions of schoolchildren”, according to Russian media.

While the combined gesture may appear to be trivial considering the devastation taking place in Ukraine, some in the martial arts world believe a move against Putin’s famous ego could do more than most would expect.

“I know the Taekwondo federation stripping Putin of his black belt and the Judo fed taking away his honorary president status sounds silly, but he is *exactly* the type of man these actions will f**k up,” jiu-jitsu brown belt Riley Stearns, who directed The Art of Self-Defence, said on Twitter.

The Russian leader is reportedly “furious” his invasion of Ukraine hasn’t been “easy” after Russian troops have been unable to take even one major city in several days of fighting, according to a member of the European Union Parliament.

After a Monday meeting with top officials in Moscow, Putin labelled the West an “empire of lies” after sweeping sanctions were imposed on Russia over the Ukraine invasion.

The Russian President made the comments in a discussion of the economy with top officials on Monday, according to a transcript of the meeting released by the Kremlin.

“(Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin) and I discussed this topic, naturally bearing in mind the sanctions that the so-called Western community – as I called it in my speech, the ‘empire of lies’ – is now trying to implement against our country,” he said.

The reports came as the head of Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign Bill Browder said Putin will not willingly back down.

“He is a total egomaniac, he can’t show any signs of weakness,” Mr Browder told Sky News Australia.

“The only thing we can do at this point is completely contain him, to effectively wage an economic war.”

A defiant Russia said on February 28 it could ride out Western sanctions over its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin huddled with officials to discuss the economic turmoil.

Foreign policy experts have cautioned against Putin’s ego, with many believing the Russian leader will not step down easily.

The EU announced harsh new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, closing its airspace to Russian aircraft and banning Russian state media broadcasting in the bloc.

Petroleum giant BP also announced it would exit its 19.75 per cent share from a major Russian oil company, inflicting a massive $35 billion loss on the nation.

The US has targeted all ten of Russia’s largest financial companies, introducing measures against institutions holding nearly 80 per cent of Russian banking sector assets.

Several countries have blocked state-backed media outlet Russia Today, with Australian browsers unable to reach the website without an VPN.

“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly economic actions against our country, but leaders of major NATO countries are making aggressive statements about our country,” Mr Putin said.

“So I order to move Russia’s deterrence forces to a special regime of duty.”