Russian President Vladimir Putin's "strong man" image has been called into question after further clues have emerged regarding his health.
Speculation that the leader is suffering from thyroid cancer or Parkinson's has circulated since he appeared to look "puffy and weakened" while giving a public address announcing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The 69-year-old has always kept his health a well-guarded secret as he prides himself on a "tough" image.
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A new investigation has revealed that Putin is accompanied by a doctor who specialises in thyroid cancer at all times.
The report by Proekt media, which is blocked in Russia, said surgeon Yevgeny Selivanov, of Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital, had flown into Putin's Black Sea resort Sochi at least 35 times to visit the dictator.
The most recent theory comes after political analyst Valery Solovei claimed Putin had cancer and Parkinson's, claiming that he had needed to have emergency surgery.
He said: "One is of psycho-neurological nature, the other is a cancer problem.
"If anyone is interested in the exact diagnosis, I'm not a doctor, and I have no ethical right to reveal these problems.
"The second diagnosis is a lot, lot more dangerous than the first-named diagnosis as Parkinson's does not threaten physical state, but just limits public appearances.
"But there is a fatal diagnosis.
"Based on this information, people will be able to make a conclusion about his life horizon, which wouldn't even require specialist medical education."
Video footage also emerged, appearing to show Putin's leg moving constantly and his fingers twitching.
The report identifies other healthcare professionals who are believed to travel with Putin regularly.
The report states that another surgeon Dr Alexey Shcheglov "follows Putin so relentlessly that during public events he allegedly gets into joint photographs with the head of state."
It said Dr Shcheglov is seen as "the doctor who, among other things, can be the first to detect problems with the thyroid gland, including oncological ones".
The report also claimed Putin has "publicly shown interest in the problem of thyroid cancer" after he met with the head of the National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology, Ivan Dedov, in 2020.
It said: "Dedov told the president about the high prevalence of thyroid cancer and spoke about the new hormonal drug Tyrogin, which fights metastases after surgery.
"'Recovery of 95-98%?' Putin asked and heard an affirmative answer."
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