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Russian President Vladimir Putin needed "urgent medical assistance" this week after being struck with "sharp sickness", it is reported.
The war leader has reportedly been advised by doctors not to make any “lengthy” public appearances after falling ill while talking to military chiefs.
Since the invasion of Ukraine began in February, it has been claimed that the despot has incurable cancer, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's, and that he either has just three years to live – or that he is already dead.
This week, it is reported he felt “sharp sickness, weakness and dizziness”, while getting up from his desk following the one-and-a-half hour virtual session, reported General SVR Telegram channel.
“The President needed urgent medical assistance,” it said.
The channel has made repeated claims over Putin’s alleged medical problems including cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
The claims – which the channel says are based on inside intelligence – are impossible to verify but the theory that he is suffering health issues is gaining currency in the West.
The channel cited the “dizziness” incident to explain an abrupt announcement this week that Putin’s annual ‘Direct Line’ live broadcast – a Q&A when he answers questions from ordinary Russians – had been postponed with no date fixed.
It had been pencilled in for the second half of June or early July, but now no date is specified.
Despite this, Putin was seen in a fairly rare public appearance in Moscow on Thursday, at an event marking the 350th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great.
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But, General SVR said: “The postponement of the live [Direct Line] with the President indefinitely is due to the unstable health of Vladimir Putin.
“A week ago, the president was preparing to answer the questions of the Russian citizens in late June-early July.
“But his doctors advised him not to make any lengthy public appearances in the near future.
“The latest argument in favour of not speaking to the public was an incident after a recent one-and-a-half hour video-link meeting with representatives of the military bloc…
“After the meeting Putin felt a sharp sickness, weakness and dizziness while trying to get up from the table.
“The President needed urgent medical assistance.”
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In four out of the last five years, the Direct Line broadcast has been in June.
In 2020 it was delayed until December due to the pandemic.
The format sees Putin answer questions for a solid four hours but the channel said: “Lately, the president has been getting tired much faster.
“Perhaps if Putin's health can be stabilised, the Direct Line will be held in August.
“The Russian president's indisposition has recently become increasingly difficult to conceal.”
General SVR claims to be authored by an exiled Kremlin lieutenant-general insider, known by the alias Viktor Mikhailovich, who purportedly has access to Putin's secrets.
It was the first outlet to suggest Putin was suffering from cancer.
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