2005 report of stroke In 2005,
The Atlantic published an essay, with a lengthy section based on observation of film footage, which had led various medical experts to speculate that Putin may have suffered a stroke
in utero, could be afflicted with "an Erb's palsy, caused by a forceps tugging on his right shoulder at birth", or had polio as a child.
2014 report of cancer It was reported according to an unnamed German doctor, that Putin was receiving treatment for an "often terminal form of cancer". Kremlin spokesman
Dmitry Peskov denied the claim. The rumors originated after the Russian president postponed a scheduled meeting from 11 to 18 March, as well as analysis of background objects in official photographs by Russia observers. In May 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence chief
Kyrylo Budanov reported that Vladimir Putin was simultaneously suffering from "several serious illnesses, one of which is cancer". The
New Statesman reported there was "no verifiable evidence that Putin is seriously ill"; Russian foreign minister
Sergei Lavrov denied the allegation;
William Burns, the director of the United States
Central Intelligence Agency said "as far as we can tell, he's entirely too healthy"; and
Richard Moore, the head of
MI6 said there "is no evidence that Putin is suffering from serious illness". On 28 May 2022, the
Daily Star even speculated that Putin might have already died of blood cancer. Neurologists have previously noted that several Russian officials such as
Anatoly Sidorov and
Sergei Ivanov who, like Putin, have specialized training by Soviet-era military and intelligence services and typically make limited use of their right arm, often holding it unnaturally stiff to the side of the torso in what is called
gunslinger's gait. A 2015 study by Dutch physicians published in the
British Medical Journal which compared video of the various officials against body movement instructions in a
KGB training manual, suggested this was a learned behavioral adaptation to allow quick access to a firearm in response to a sudden threat and probably not a signifier of any medical condition in either Putin or other Russian political leaders. In December 2022, Solovei announced Putin was being treated with cancer drugs for an unspecified, advanced stage cancer and "the end is already in sight". Several years prior, in 2017, Solovei suggested that Putin might resign due to ill health.
October 2023 claims of death In October 2023, Russian Telegram channel "General [of]
SVR" and Solovei said that Putin had died on 26 October from complications of cancer. According to Solovei, a body double was successfully used to replace the real Putin in many public activities and meetings during the last several months. Earlier, the Kremlin denied media reports which claimed Putin was suffering from a serious illness, citing "General SVR". ==See also==