New Delhi: Russian president Valdimir Putin is said to be seriously ill and Moscow’s invasion in Ukraine is said to be “an element” of his illness, reported Sky News. Christopher Steele, a former British spy who wrote a dossier on Donald Trump and alleged Russia’s interference in the 2016 US Presidential election said in an interview with Sky News that Putin is “seriously ill”.
"Certainly, from what we're hearing from sources in Russia and elsewhere, is that Putin is, in fact, quite seriously ill,” Steele told the publication.
"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 added.
Steele is not the only one who speculated about the deteriorating health condition of the Russian president. The publication, in another interview with Ukrainian Major General Kyrylo Budanov, reported him as saying that Putin is seriously ill and that a coup to overthrow him is underway in Russia.
Speculations regarding Putin’ health which have been circulating for several years have intensified after he ordered invasion in Ukraine.
NewLines Magazine had reported that it got access to an audio recording of an oligarch close to Kremlin who said that Putin was “very ill with blood cancer” though the type of blood cancer was not specified.
His health came under further scrutiny after his frail appearance during the Victory Day celebrations where he was seen sitting with a thick blanket covering his lap, reported Independent. He was the only one who was using extra covering amid a mild 9-degree Celsius temperature while sitting with World War 2 veterans watching the military parade at Moscow’s famous red square.