All Vladimir Putin ‘lifeless’ rumours from physique doubles to corpse saved in freezer

It’s a query the entire world is asking: Is Vladimir Putin actually lifeless?

Speculation has mounted on-line for years concerning the Russian President’s ‘unwell well being’, with claims he’s allegedly affected by terminal most cancers, Parkinson’s illness and different illnesses. Last month, a controversial Telegram channel alleged Putin suffered a cardiac arrest and was reportedly discovered by safety convulsing in his personal bed room – a declare the Kremlin was compelled to strongly deny.

Then rumours swirled once more when drastic stories claimed the dictator had died and his “corpse was placed in a freezer, which previously contained deep-frozen food”. Once once more, the Kremlin launched a press release to insist he was alive and stated: “We have only one Putin.” As BBC One’s documentary Putin and Ukraine’s Stolen Children airs on tv tonight, the Mirror takes a have a look at the ruler’s rumoured well being battles in full, together with claims Putin has been changed by a doppelganger.

‘Corpse in freezer’

In October, there was claims the physique of Putin had allegedly been saved in a freezer following rumours of his loss of life, in keeping with a Telegram channel which repeatedly alleges Putin is terminally unwell with most cancers. The channel alleged: “Putin’s corpse was placed in a freezer, which previously contained deep-frozen food, at the presidential residence in Valdai.”

It additional claimed that senior aides had been getting ready a physique double to take over because the president, so he might rule with out query. However, the Krelim disputed the rumours and branded them ‘absurd’. It comes after General SVR has continued to assert that Putin’s well being has deteriorated through the years.

‘Cardiac arrest’

Prior to his alleged ‘loss of life’ final month, the Telegram channel alleged he suffered a ‘cardiac arrest’ at his residence in Moscow on Sunday, October 22. They stated the despot was discovered mendacity on the ground subsequent to an overturned desk of meals and drinks earlier than being taken into a close-by room geared up with medical amenities the place he was given CPR.

“Doctors performed resuscitation, having previously determined that the president was in cardiac arrest,” reported the channel. “Help was provided on time, the heart was started and Putin regained consciousness.” The channel – which by no means posts any strong proof behind such claims – additionally stated all current appearances by the Russian dictator, together with international visits, have been by a physique double or doubles.

Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated in response: “I can tell you there are no doubles when it comes to work and so on.” Specifically on the guts issues, he continued: “He is well – this is no more than just another canard. These [kinds of stories] belong to the category of fake news, discussed with enviable tenacity by a number of media outlets. This brings nothing but a smile [in the Kremlin].”

‘Terminal most cancers’

In November 2022, stories first emerged of the president affected by Parkinson’s illness and pancreatic most cancers. These claims are stated to have come from leaked Kremlin spy paperwork and the knowledge shared by General SVR. Putin was stated to have misplaced 18lb, whereas the reported emails additionally stated there have been rumours he had prostate most cancers.

It was claimed across the identical time that the chief had been identified with a schizoaffective dysfunction, as he was seen at a public occasion with a blanket over his legs. A supply, stated to be effectively positioned inside Putin’s circle, instructed General SVR that Putin had delayed surgical procedure forward of that yr’s Victory Day parade. The channel reported: “Putin was recommended to undergo surgery, the date of which is being discussed and agreed. There seems to be no particular urgency, but it cannot be delayed either.”

In December final yr, a Danish senior spy claimed Putin had suffered megalomania induced by most cancers medicine and that this had been a consider his resolution to invade Ukraine. They stated “delusions of grandeur” and the Kremlin chief’s “moon-shaped face” in early 2022 had been indicators of the unwanted side effects of hormone remedy for oncology.

The head of Russian evaluation on the Danish Defence Intelligence Service – whose identification is so secret he was named solely as Joakim – stated: “Delusions of grandeur are one of the known side effects of the type of hormone treatment that he was on… It’s not something I can say for certain, but I think it did affect his decisions when he launched the war in Ukraine.”

In April 2023, there have been stories that Putin had suffered a brief “nervous breakdown” after altering to stronger most cancers medicine. At the time, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov didn’t outright deny the doppelganger, however referred to the options as “quite strange”. Several Russian sources claimed the warmongering chief had modified the medication he was taking for most cancers and was in a extra severe situation than extensively understood.

“He is now undergoing a third course of treatment,” stated political analyst Valery Solovey, a former professor at Moscow’s prestigious Institute of International Relations [MGIMO], a coaching faculty for spies and diplomats. “The previous two were extremely unsuccessful.”

Following his alleged nervous breakdown, it was claimed medics injected an “antipsychotic drug” which led to a speedy enchancment. “The president felt better, he was washed, changed and put to bed,” Solovey added. The medical doctors are stated to have then “cancelled a new drug they had just prescribed for the president” due to the debilitating “side effects” regardless that it was the premise of his new remedy.

‘Parkinson’s illness’

In April 2022, stories seen Putin was unable to face nonetheless, twisting his toes and shaking his legs throughout public appearances, and it was recommended he had Parkinson’s illness. When the Russian brute met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi, he was caught on digital camera awkwardly twisting his toes when the pair sat down for talks. Then he was seen unable to face nonetheless, seeming to sway forwards and backwards, and shaking his legs, when he introduced the State Prize of the Russian Federation to filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov on the Kremlin.

A medical professor examined the footage and reported to the Mirror on the time that Putin possible had Parkinson’s illness. “Tremors would be consistent with Parkinson’s and certainly the tremors he has in his hands are all consistent with the disease,” Professor Angus Dalgleish of St George’s, University of London, stated, including: “I would put my money on the fact that he’s got about Parkinson’s.” The medical professor additionally stated Putin usually presents with a “deadpan face” which is “classic Parkinson’s”.

‘Terminal prognosis’

In May 2022, the Mirror solely reported a Russian intelligence supply’s claims that Putin had a most of three years to stay. The FSB officer stated the Russian president “has a severe form of rapidly progressing cancer”. And he added: “He has no more than two to three years to stay alive.” The spy stated the illness means Putin can also be shedding his sight.

He revealed: “We are told he is suffering from headaches and when he appears on TV he needs pieces of paper with everything written in huge letters to read what he’s going to say. They are so big each page can only hold a couple of sentences. His eyesight is seriously worsening. And his limbs are now also shaking uncontrollably.”

• Putin and Ukraine’s Stolen Children airs on BBC One at 9pm tonight on Thursday, November 23