Vladimir Putin has complained to doctors about fatigue and shortness of breath on his mammoth trip to the Russian far east, it has been claimed.
A body double or “doppelgänger” is also on standby in case he feels unable to fulfil his engagements.
The warmonger is today supervising the Vostok-2022 war games in the Pacific after visiting glaciers-and-volcanoes peninsula Kamchatka.
Telegram channel General SVR - which has long claimed Putin is suffering serious health issues - said he had gone ahead with the gruelling trip despite medical setbacks.
“Even before the flight to Kamchatka, President of Russia Putin had worsening problems with his kidneys, swelling of his face appeared, [and] ’bags’ under his eyes clearly appeared,” stated the channel.
“Despite the use of drugs, there was no clear improvement.
“Upon arrival in Kamchatka, Putin complained to doctors about fatigue and shortness of breath.
“But the president nevertheless decided to participate in pre-planned activities.
"[A] doppelgänger of the President is ready to assist."
On his visit to Kamchatka, Putin's feet were seen "twitching uncontrollably", and he awkwardly clasped a chair.
He appeared puffy-faced and seemed to have difficulty speaking at one point, his voice croaky.
General SVR channel has long claimed that Putin is suffering from serious illnesses including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and a schizoaffective disorder, yet has not offered definitive proof.
It is reportedly authored by an exiled Kremlin lieutenant-general, who is known by the alias Viktor Mikhailovich, and claims inside knowledge.
However, Putin’s officials deny he has health issues.
Putin two years ago admitted that officials had considered using doubles, but he claimed the idea was rejected.
"I discarded the idea of any doubles,” he said.
He was advised in the early 2000s when Russia was hit by terrorist attacks that a lookalike should take his place at events where the head of state might be at risk, he said.
“This was during the toughest time of our war against terrorism,” he said.
Body doubles were used by former Kremlin leaders, for example longtime Soviet supremos Josef Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev.
