‘Dizzy and weak’ Putin has grown more isolated in recent days, insiders claim

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov in Ufa, Russia January 13, 2023. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. — Putin’s medication has made him weak and dizzy, according to reports (Picture: Reuters)

Vladimir Putin has become more withdrawn in recent days due to the side effects of medication, Kremlin insiders have claimed.

Rumours about the health of the Russian president have circulated ever since the invasion last February, with Parkinson’s disease and terminal cancer among his alleged ailments.

According to sources claiming to have knowledge of Putin’s inner circle, his medical treatment has left him ‘dizzy and weak’ and he hardly has any visitors.

Footage claiming to show symptoms of his Parkinson’s has not been independently verified, and the details of his health are a closely guarded secret.

But reports on Russian social media channels claim Putin was undergoing therapy with drugs which ‘in addition to the therapeutic effect, cause weakness, dizziness, and lack of appetite’.

They continued: ‘This does not have the best effect on the president’s psycho-emotional state.’

The channels, which have links to people close to the president, say he is becoming increasingly isolated as a result.

The reports said: ‘According to the close circle of Russian President Putin, he has become withdrawn, laconic, practically does not receive anyone, and in general, looks deeply concerned in recent days.’

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks to lay flowers at the Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery to mark the 80th anniversary of the Nazi Siege of Leningrad breakthrough during World War II, in Saint Petersburg on January 18, 2023. (Photo by Mikhail Klimentyev / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) — Putin spent this morning marking the 80th anniversary of the Siege of Leningrad in Saint Petersburg (Picture: Sputnik)

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kremlin Pool/UPI/Shutterstock (13722023a) Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on economic issues via a video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow in Russia on Tuesday on January 17, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin Chairs a Meeting on Economic Issues, Moscow, Russia - 17 Jan 2023 — Putin’s health is a closely guarded secret (Picture: Kremlin Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin pays his respects to late Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan Murtaza Rakhimov in Ufa, Russia January 13, 2023. Sputnik/Dmitry Azarov/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. — There have been rumours that Putin is terminally ill since last year (Picture: Reuters)

The reports also reference concerns that Putin could be prepared to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine if it looks like his country is facing total defeat.

They said: ‘He is going to play, if not all in, then by raising the stakes to a critical level.

‘In the event of the failure of the Russian Army’s impending offensive at the front and the loss of control even over part of the occupied territories, it will be impossible to convince the elites of the possibility of a “victorious” exit from the military adventure.’

‘In this case, the use of nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine is possible,’ they added. ‘But this will lead to a general catastrophe for both Putin and all representatives of the elite without exception.’

Insiders added: ‘The war exists in the head of one terminally ill man with a disturbed psyche who is trying to take as many people as possible with him to a mythical “paradise”.

‘This should be understood by everyone who participates or is going to participate in hostilities on the side of the Putin regime and follow the order to use nuclear weapons.’

epa10412802 Rescue services work at the scene of a helicopter crash in Brovary, near Kyiv, Ukraine, 18 January 2023. At least 18 people died, including three children, after a helicopter crashed near a kindergarten and a residential building in the city of Brovary, Oleksiy Kuleba, the head of Kyiv Regional Military Administration wrote on telegram. A rescue operation was underway at the site, he added. As a result of the crash, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs died: the minister, the first deputy minister and the state secretary, according to the chief of Ukraine's National Police, Ihor Klymenko. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO — Rescue services at the scene of the helicopter crash in Brovary, near Kyiv (Picture: EPA)

This morning, three top officials in Ukraine’s interior ministry were killed in a helicopter crash east of Kyiv.

Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, First Deputy Minister Yevgeny Yenin, and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovich were among 18 people who died when the aircraft crashed beside a nursery.

It was reported that nine of those who died were in the helicopter, while the other nine were on the ground, including three children.

An official at the ministry said: ‘Whether it was sabotage, a technical malfunction, a violation of flight safety rules, we will soon find out.

‘My deepest condolences to the families and friends of Denis, Yevhen and all the families of those killed in this terrible disaster.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.