Does Russia’s Vladimir Putin Have Blood Cancer?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has leukemia and underwent back surgery as reported by The Times and many International newspapers.

 An oligarch having close ties with the Russian leader has reportedly been recorded as saying “Putin is very ill with blood cancer.”

The source said that Putin had surgery on his back linked to his blood cancer shortly before he invaded Ukraine.

Videos on social media showed Putin with a thick green cover draped over his legs as he sat alongside WW-2 veterans and senior dignitaries for a military parade show.

He was the only person among his group who needed additional cover to protect himself from the 9-degree Celsius weather; Putin was also seen coughing.

 

‘Putin Has Cancer’

A former British spy has recently claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “seriously ill” and it is an “element” of what is happening in Ukraine.

“It's not clear exactly what this illness is - whether it's incurable or terminal, or whatever. But certainly, I think it's part of the equation," he said.

Christopher Steele, who wrote a dossier on Donald Trump and alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election campaign, told Sky News: “Certainly, from what we're hearing from sources in Russia and elsewhere, is that Putin is, in fact, quite seriously ill.”

Meanwhile, a wealthy Russian close to the Kremlin had mentioned this information in a recording when he was discussing with a Western investor in March.

On the 11-minute tape, the oligarch “had no idea he was being recorded,” New Lines said.

The Russian complained during the recording that Putin has gone “crazy,” referring to the “deep resentment” prevailing in Russia concerning the economic situation, claiming that everyone is wishing for “Putin's death.”

Speculation about Putin’s health was revealed after watching him limping on many occasions, and he was also spotted holding the edge of the table to lean on during his meeting last April with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu; His recent behaviors, in several meetings, sparked further speculation.

As for Putin's puffy face, medical experts explained that it could be the result of his use of steroids that treat cancer.

 

Opposite Effects

New Lines revealed that officers in the Russian Federal Security Service were told to keep Putin's health secret.

Christo Grozev, the chief Russian investigator for Bellingcat which is an investigative journalism group, said a recording had been sent to regional leaders asking them to disregard speculation that the president had only months to live.

“These instructions had the opposite effect, as most of the FSB officers suddenly believed that Putin really had a serious medical condition,” Grozev told New Lines.

At least seven wealthy Russians recently died in mysterious circumstances, amid rumors of anger over Putin's handling of the economy, and many saw their fortunes drastically diminished after the invasion of Ukraine including two claimed to have murdered their wives and children before committing suicide.

Roman Abramovich, the owner of the Chelsea Football Club in London, may have been poisoned in March because of his attempts to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine.

The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, had suggested that all hostilities would stop by the end of this year.

In an interview with British Sky News, he said that the turning point in the conflict with Russia will come in the second part of next August, claiming that Putin is seriously ill with cancer, which will lead to a change in the Russian leadership.

 

Was It a Rumor?

Putin’s health situation began circulating on Russia's popular Telegram channel, General SVR, which claimed that Putin's doctors had warned him that the surgery could put him out of action for a short period and that the president would hand over power to one of his trusted men.

However, There has been no official announcement regarding Putin's alleged cancer, and the Kremlin has not commented on these rumors, whether by confirming or denying them, but there are videos and photos of his speech that show him shaky, restless, and bloated in appearance.

It was not only cancer, Putin, 69, may also suffer from dementia too.

Observers of Russian affairs are divided over the “health rumors,” with some even suggesting that it may be a deliberate ploy by the Kremlin, given how tightly Russia controls any media news related to the president.

It is believed that a former officer of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) runs the Telegram operator, which published the latest claim about Putin's health, using the pseudonym “Viktor Mikhailovich.”