Russian President Vladimir Putin presents himself time and again as a powerful macho, often bare-chested. But it has long been speculated that the Kremlin boss is seriously ill. The Russian attack on Ukraine and the threat of nuclear war have made the health of the 69-year-old immensely important. As has become known by now, he uses rather unusual methods to stay healthy.
The Russian-language news site Proekt published extensive research into Putin’s health in April. Based on the analysis of publicly available sources, “Proekt” concluded that during his stay in Sochi, numerous doctors always traveled to the resort – including a thyroid cancer specialist.
Special Treatment at the Black Sea
The Kremlin has set up an office in Sochi similar to that in the Moscow suburb, Proekt reported. This is intended to give the impression that the head of state is in Moscow, when in fact he is recovering on the Black Sea. To stay fit, the president is bathing in the blood of Siberian deer, the article continues.
Don’t go to the toilet alone
The French weekly Paris Match recently reported that a team accompanied Putin every time he went to the toilet during his visits to Saudi Arabia in 2019 and France in 2017. This has prevented anyone from analyzing his excretions to draw conclusions about the state of health of the head of state.
Putin was undergoing treatment for advanced cancer in April, the US magazine Newsweek even wrote in June, citing US secret services. The US National Security Council has denied the existence of such files.
Physically weakened?
The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Major General Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview with Sky News in mid-May that the Kremlin chief was suffering from cancer, but without any evidence.
Videos of Putin’s writhing foot or of him clinging to the table — possibly to suppress a tremor — fueled rumors that the head of state was ill. However, during his recent public appearances, the Kremlin chief has shown no signs of physical weakness.
Irritations during the corona pandemic
Putin’s behavior in the corona pandemic caused irritation. The Kremlin said the president was vaccinated. However, pictures of the vaccination – like almost all other heads of state – were not published. Contacts had to observe the strictest precautions, including a few days of quarantine. Visitors who refused these terms, such as UN Secretary-General António Guterres, were relegated to the end of an excessively long table. Those who met the requirements, on the other hand, were allowed to shake hands or even hug the Kremlin boss.
Major efforts have also been made in recent years to protect Putin against a corona infection in other ways. To this day, he conducts most of his political speeches via video.
“No Signs of Illness”
The Kremlin strongly denies any claim that the Russian president is seriously ill. “I don’t think reasonable people can see in this person any signs of illness or infirmity,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with French TV channel TF1 at the end of May, noting that Putin “in public every day popped up” “.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
