VLADIMIR Putin is clinging to power as rumours swirl that he’s dying from a cocktail of illnesses, with Volodymyr Zelensky saying it’s a fact that he will die soon.
The Ukrainian President made the blunt prediction during a speech in Paris, standing alongside French leader Emmanuel Macron as he urged the West to “stay strong” and not ease pressure on Russia.
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Zelensky said: “He [Putin] will die soon, and that’s a fact, and it will come to an end.”
The bold claim adds fuel to long-swirling speculation that the 72-year-old tyrant’s grip on power may be slipping – not just politically, but physically.
A string of bizarre public appearances and leaked intelligence have been raising alarm bells over the Russian leader’s health.
From trembling ‘jelly’ legs and bloated features to whispered diagnoses of cancer and Parkinson’s, speculation has exploded that the ageing despot is battling multiple serious illnesses behind the Kremlin walls.
Expert in Russian politics, Dr Stephen Hall, told The Sun: “There’s been rumours of Putin being unwell since the mid 2000s if not earlier.
“There are lots of possible theories as to what’s been going on in terms of how the Kremlin hides it.”
Cancer rumours
Bombshell spy leaks have suggested Putin is fighting pancreatic, thyroid, and even prostate cancer.
Emails seen by The Sun Online from a Russian intelligence source stated: “I can confirm he has been diagnosed with early stage Parkinson’s disease, but it’s already progressing… Putin is regularly stuffed with all kinds of heavy steroids and innovative painkilling injections to stop the spread of pancreatic cancer.”
The insider added: “It not only causes a lot of pain, Putin has a state of puffiness of the face and other side effects – including memory lapses.”
An investigation by Proekt media revealed that a top thyroid cancer surgeon visited Putin no fewer than 35 times at his Black Sea resort, Sochi.
The tyrant is also reportedly followed constantly by a neurosurgeon, raising fears of neurological or oncological issues.
“He does have a team of doctors on hand at any point,” Dr Hall said.
“And obviously, his bodyguards know first-aid very well. So there’s plenty of things that come into being trying to do over the years in terms of keeping Vladimir Putin alive and fit.
Parkinson’s signs
Footage of Putin greeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in April 2022 showed him trembling uncontrollably, his knees appearing to buckle as he attempted a handshake.
He has since been caught in multiple clips tapping his foot, gripping tables for support and slouching awkwardly in meetings – including during a 12-minute briefing with defence chief Sergei Shoigu where his hand clutched a desk throughout.
Observers noted he appeared “feeble and barely able to hold himself upright”, with US body language expert Professor Erik Bucy saying: “It’s an astonishingly weakened Putin… An able-bodied president would not need to keep himself propped up.”
Multiple sclerosis claims
Alongside cancer and Parkinson’s rumours, some reports have also linked Putin to multiple sclerosis (MS) – a chronic condition affecting the brain and spinal cord.
Though less widely reported, speculation about MS has emerged due to Putin’s unsteady gait, rigid posture, and occasional difficulty with movement – all potential symptoms of the disease.
Videos have shown him walking with stiffness, appearing to drag his legs, and struggling with coordination.
The same Telegram channels that have claimed inside Kremlin knowledge suggested that his erratic mobility and neurological signs could point to MS, possibly in combination with other health issues.
The Kremlin has never acknowledged the claims – but the signs of declining motor control have only added to suspicions that something is seriously wrong behind the scenes.
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Stomach troubles
According to Telegram channel General SVR – run by alleged Kremlin insiders – Putin’s condition has worsened with bouts of nausea, a lack of appetite, and abdominal pain.
“He practically ate nothing and periodically complained of pain in the abdomen,” the channel claimed.
He is also said to spend large chunks of time in underground bunkers, gripped by fear of airstrikes and further health complications.
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Bloating and injections
Public appearances have shown a puffier-faced Putin, which experts believe could be a side effect of steroid treatment.
He reportedly soiled himself after a fall at his residence – and has been pictured with suspected IV track marks on the back of his hand.
Vision loss
Putin’s vanity has reportedly stopped him from wearing glasses in public – forcing him to rely on enormous fonts during speeches.
In a recent Kremlin video, the ageing despot could be seen reading from oversized pages with bold lettering, attempting to hide the print from the camera.
Sources say this has been going on for years, with one report noting: “Putin does have problems with his vision, but [his officials] are simply carefully hiding it.”
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Body double claims
Rumours that the Kremlin is using Putin lookalikes to perhaps conceal the tyrant’s true health status have intensified.
Telegram accounts and intelligence sources claim Putin uses body doubles to attend public events, with AI facial recognition analysis from Japan reportedly supporting the theory.
Observers point to strange facial differences, inconsistent earlobes, and even mistakes like a double wearing Putin’s signature Raketa watch on the wrong wrist.
Ukraine has said it’s a “fact” that stand-ins are used.
One Kremlin-watching channel claimed the reason a double kept a 70ft distance from ambassadors during a recent ceremony was due to “lumps on [his] cheekbones” and a “lumpy appearance” that makeup couldn’t hide.
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Desperate anti-ageing push
Putin is also reportedly obsessed with reversing the clock, with Russia’s health ministry demanding scientists urgently submit developments in anti-ageing treatments.
One insider claimed: “Orders came from the big boss [Putin] and health officials rushed to implement it as soon as possible.”
With his once-strongman image crumbling under the weight of health rumours, Putin is reportedly determined to appear young and fit – but the opposite effect is increasingly on display.
From jelly legs to giant-font speeches, the portrait emerging of Putin is not one of dominance, but decline.
Putin’s health rumours – a timeline of decline
2015 – Speculation first emerges that Putin is suffering from back pain and may have received steroid injections.
2017 – Kremlin-watchers notice his increasingly bloated appearance, sparking rumours of steroid use.
2019 – Putin is spotted using unusually large-font speech notes.
2020 – Vlad meets with endocrinology chief Ivan Dedov and publicly shows interest in thyroid cancer research.
2021 – Intelligence sources claim Putin is constantly accompanied by a thyroid cancer doctor and neurosurgeon.
April 2022 – Shocking footage shows Putin gripping a table tightly and tapping his foot during a meeting, fuelling Parkinson’s rumours.
April 2022 – While greeting Belarusian President Lukashenko, Putin appears to tremble violently and buckle at the knees.
May 2022 – Putin’s bloated face and awkward movements prompt claims he may be battling cancer or Parkinson’s.
November 2022 – Leaked emails from a Russian intelligence source claim he has early-stage Parkinson’s and pancreatic cancer.
December 2022 – Reports emerge that Putin soiled himself after falling at his residence.
2023 – General SVR claims Putin is suffering from stomach pain, nausea, and is largely living in bunker-type facilities.
2024 – Japanese AI study claims to “prove” use of Putin body doubles, based on facial analysis and movement discrepancies.
March 2025 – Zelensky declares: “Putin will die soon, and that’s a fact”, doubling down on growing health suspicions.
