British intelligence has not ruled out the possibility that Vladimir Putin is already dead.
MI6 leaders say the Russian president has been seriously ill – he is believed to have cancer – and that if he had died, he would remain silent to stay in power for as long as possible.
A source also told the Daily Star Sunday that the recent appearances in the media of the war were probably pre-recorded. It has also been suggested that a double bodysuit may have been used at public events, such as the Victory Day parade in Moscow earlier this month.
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An intelligence source said: “Putin is very ill and when he dies his death will be kept secret for weeks, if not months. There is also the possibility that he is already dead.
“It’s impossible to know. It is believed that Putin has used bodily doubles in the past when he has gone wrong and the Kremlin may be doing it now.
“Putin is the head of a small group of senior officials who are completely loyal to him. The real fear (for his comrades) is that once his death is announced there may be a coup by the Kremlin and Russian generals. want to withdraw from Ukraine.
“Putin’s death will leave them powerless and vulnerable, so they have a special interest in saying that Putin is alive, when the opposite could be true.”
The health of the 69-year-old man has visibly deteriorated in recent months. He appears to have mobility problems and facial swelling, and some believe he may have blood cancer.
Two weeks ago, a Russian oligarch with close ties to the Kremlin said Putin was “very ill with blood cancer” and had surgery before invading Ukraine. Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Major General Kyrylo Budanov, also said Putin was seriously ill with cancer.
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