Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surprised everyone with his bold remark about his arch enemy and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Paris speech, saying he ‘will die soon’. While this may sound surprising to those not following Putin’s past public appearances or rumours about his deteriorating health, speculation is rife that the Russian President has been battling multiple health issues from cancer to Parkinson’s disease.
“He [Putin] will die soon, and that’s a fact, and it will come to an end,” said Zelenskyy. According to The Sun, a string of the Russian leader’s bizarre public appearances and leaked intelligence may have hinted at his poor health, owing to a host of diseases affecting his physical and mental health.
There have been reports of him suffering from cancer affecting his stomach and bowels, and him soiling himself after falling down a flight of stairs. Putin’s trembling legs, puffy face appearance, bloodshot eyes, and rumoured use of body double have added fuel to the fire. Media reports have often talked about his persistent cough and jerky involuntary movements in his hands and feet.
Here are some of the health issues Putin is rumoured to be suffering from:
Cancer
Some intelligent reports have claimed the Russian leader has been fighting not one, but multiple types of cancer – pancreatic, thyroid, and even prostate cancer.
Recent photos show Putin with red eyes and a bruise on his hand. He has also been spotted with a scar on his neck, which sources say indicates he took treatment for thyroid cancer.
In 2022, the General SVR Telegram channel claimed Putin had soiled himself after falling down a flight of stairs, defecating “involuntarily” due to “cancer affecting his stomach and bowels.” Kremlin has rubbished the rumours.
Parkinson’s disease
A Russian intelligence source told The Sun Online that Putin had been diagnosed with “early stage Parkinson’s disease, but it’s already progressing.”
Footage of Putin welcoming Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in April 2022 holds some clue as it shows him visibly trembling, with his knees seemingly buckling as he reached out for a handshake.
In many other videos, Putin is seen tapping his foot, gripping tables for support and slouching awkwardly. Many observe that the President is not able to hold himself upright.
Multiple sclerosis
Putin’s declining motor control, unsteady gait, rigid posture, and difficulty in mobility point towards this condition. It has been speculated that the mobility issues and neurological problems could indicate MS, a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Cardiac arrest
According to the General SVR Telegram channel, Putin suffered a cardiac arrest last October and was resuscitated before being taken to a special intensive care facility at his official residence. It was reported that help reached him on time and he regained consciousness after his heart was started timely. However, his Kremlin spokesperson termed the report as fake.
Vision loss
Putin prefers big fonts over glasses when it comes to reading out speeches in public. Video of him reading from oversized pages carrying big and bold lettering was not missed by the cameras.
“Putin does have problems with his vision, but [his officials] are simply carefully hiding it,” said the sources.
Use of body double?
Rumours have intensified that the Kremlin is using body doubles to conceal Vladimir Putin’s true health status. Telegram accounts and intelligence sources suggest Putin employs lookalikes for public events, with facial recognition analysis backing these claims. Observers have noted discrepancies, such as different facial features, mismatched earlobes, and even a double wearing Putin’s Raketa watch on the wrong wrist. Ukraine has confirmed the use of stand-ins, with one source alleging a double’s “lumpy appearance” at a recent ceremony was too noticeable for makeup to cover.