Putin's Defence Minister Suffers Heart Attack Not From Natural Causes, Claims Businessman Leonid Nevzlin: Report

Nevzlin is a former media mogul and top oil executive. He is among several Russian businessmen who were forced to move out after being targeted by the Kremlin in 2003

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (Getty Image)

New Delhi: Vladimir Putin's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, who has not been spotted in Kremlin briefings, is  said to have suffered a massive heart attack 'not from natural causes', according to Russian-Israeli businessman Leonid Nevzlin.

A report in the publication Daily Mail cited the businessman claiming a major fall out between Putin and his closest advisers and military leaders. The business leader also claimed that 20 generals have been arrested for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has not been very successful until now.

Shoigu is believed to be in intensive care after suffering 'a massive heart attack' which 'could not have occurred due to natural causes',  as per Nevzlin who also hinted at Putin's longtime ally of having become the target of an assassination attempt ordered by his boss.

Nevzlin is a former media mogul and top oil executive. He is among several Russian businessmen who were forced to move out after being targeted by the Kremlin in 2003 as Putin decided to seize the Yukos oil company.

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Shoigu, 66, who has been a close ally of Russian President Putin since 2012, has not bee seen in action for last few weeks.

He was appointed as the minister of defence in 2012, and remained at the helm when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Considered as a long-time confidante of Putin, Shoigu is said to accompany the Russian President on hunting trips.

Going by the report, Shoigu is expected to have been "ruled out of the game" following the suspected health incident in March after a meeting with Vladimir Putin. In fact, the claims of a suspected heart attack is not new and earlier also there were reports about the 66-year-old's cardiovascular problems.

The report says Shoigu was last seen in a video conference on Thursday with Putin and other ministers about the development of the Arctic but did not speak. However, it’s being speculated that the Kremlin is using recorded footage of Shoigu since his withdrawal from public appearances weeks ago.