In the public domain, as experts assure, there is absolutely no serious evidence that the head of the Kremlin is sick.
Despite rumors of fatal illnesses of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a number of Western researchers doubt the veracity of the information being disseminated. Newsweek writes about it.
During the year of war in Ukraine, one of the topics of discussion was Putin’s allegedly incurable health condition. However, despite the rumors, he is still alive and continues to wage war against Ukraine.
“I am deeply skeptical that Putin has any health problems that could lead to his imminent death or incapacitation. There are a lot of rumors, propaganda and wishful thinking in the game,” said the director of the consulting firm Mayak Intelligence , based in London and specializing in Russia Mark Galeotti.
Last week, on February 21, Vladimir Putin delivered his address to the people, where he declared his position to continue waging war, complaining that it was the West that was the aggressor that dragged Russia and Ukraine into the war.
In one March 2022 report, the British tabloid The Daily Star, citing an anonymous American intelligence source, claimed that Putin was dying in the “throes” of cancer.
Rumors that Putin has cancer have been confirmed by Western intelligence agencies. Speaking to Newsweek in June 2022, three U.S. intelligence chiefs read reports that said Putin was undergoing cancer treatment in April 2022.
In May 2022, former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele said the Russian leader was suspending a meeting of his security council in order to receive “certain medical assistance.”
In April 2022, The Moscow Times reported that journalist Alexei Venediktov asked Vladimir Putin’s press secretary if the president really did not have cancer, to which he replied: “That’s right.”
A month later, New Lines magazine, citing an oligarch close to the Kremlin, described Putin as “very sick with blood cancer.”
The network also suggested that Putin developed Parkinson’s disease due to viral videos that show Putin firmly holding on to a table with one hand. However, scientists said the few indications that he may be showing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is not sufficient evidence that he is ill. British neurogeneticist John Hardy told the German news outlet DW that Putin “didn’t show any signs of parkinsonism in my opinion” but admitted he “doesn’t look very good.”
K. Ray Chaudhury, a neuroscientist at the University of London, also told the publication they “can’t find evidence” of parkinsonism in the video.
Another one of the unverified rumors that garnered attention in December 2022 involved claims of cancer due to Putin falling down stairs and getting dirty. This story was also shared by General SVR, who claimed that Putin fell down the stairs and fell on his tailbone, which “involuntarily emptied himself.” The press service of the Russian president denied this fact.
Richard Sakwa, emeritus professor of Russian and European politics at the University of Kent, said that “there is absolutely no serious evidence in the public domain that Putin is sick.”
“In fact, his energetic performance during his annual address to the Federal Assembly earlier this week demonstrated that he is healthy and completely balanced. He always has a medical team with him, but this makes sense from a purely preventive point of view … In my opinion, Putin will probably run again in 2024 and win. He will be with us – forever – for the next few years,” Sakwa said.
Vladimir Putin is in a bad psychological state and is trying to stay away from other people, says the former head of the Moscow FSB, Yevgeny Savostyanov. Putin is very afraid of the “anger” of the people of Russia, which can find a way out at any moment, so he is looking for any ways to achieve victory.
According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War in a Feb. 24 report, Putin will attempt to present Russia’s catastrophic military failures as a necessary experience for Russia to use to prepare for upcoming NATO military aggression.
