Reports of Serious Illness

Numerous reports are circulating online that Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to undergo cancer surgery and therefore has decided to hand over power to a hardline former KGB agent temporarily should that become necessary. Chief among those reporting on this matter is the New York Post.

While the president is incapacitated, power will supposedly be transferred to Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Russian Federation Security Council. This is according to a video put out by the Telegram Channel “General SVR” last Saturday.

Ex-KGB officer and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, 70, may take charge of Russia from Vladimir Putin, who is believed to be scheduled for surgery in the near future. Image Credit: thefederal.com

The channel, purportedly run by a former Russian Intelligence Service Lieutenant going by the pseudonym of Viktor Mikhailovich, is reporting that Putin has been told by his doctors for a long time that he required surgery for an undisclosed type of cancer.

Keep in mind that these reports are unconfirmed by the Kremlin. The whole matter may be a disinformation campaign used to make the Russian strongman look weak. The Kremlin has always strongly denied Putin has any medical problems and portrays him in robust health, even during several mysterious absences in recent years. I suppose Putin did not go under the knife prior to May 9th because he had to be visible to preside over the majestic Red Square 9 May Victory Day commemoration of the defeat of Hitler and Nazism in Germany.