‘He doesn’t have a long life ahead’: Putin suffers from ‘grave’ illnesses, says Ukraine’s spy chief

Vladimir Putin has less than two years to live as he suffers from multiple ‘grave’ illnesses, according to the head of the Ukrainian intelligence service.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov said Kyiv spies who infiltrated the Kremlin made the claims based on ‘human intelligence’.

Mr Budanov added: ‘Putin doesn’t have a long life ahead of him’, USA Today reported.

Putin’s health has been subject to fierce rumour for months, escalating after he was pictured gripping a table during a meeting with defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

Putin (pictured during a recent meeting of the BRICS countries) is rumoured to have cancer

Putin, 70, swayed back and forth as filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov accepted a prize this month

Putin’s poor posture and seemingly bloated face and neck sparked speculation about the leader’s health, which is said to have ailed since the invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin leader was alleged in April to be in need of an urgent cancer operation. 

Maj. Gen. Budanov told USA Today his agency expects Putin to die within just two years

Putin also reportedly suffers from Parkinson’s and ‘schizophrenic symptoms’, according to self-styled ‘Kremlin insiders’.

They wrote via Telegram channel General SVR: ‘The Russian President Vladimir Putin has oncology, and the latest problems identified during [his latest] examination are associated with this disease.’

Meanwhile King’s College London fellow Michael Clarke told Sky News this month: ‘On 7 October he will be 70. He is known to hit the Botox quite heavily, I always say that he’s trying to embalm himself while he’s still alive – he does take a lot of Botox. 

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Putin’s legs buckled during a speech in Moscow, adding to growing rumours of his health woes

A bloated Putin was seen gripping a table whilst slouching in his chair during a televised meeting with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu months ago, sparking intense speculation

‘He moves around with doctors, there’s known to be a little team of doctors who are never far away, and it’s said that he leaves meetings at frequent intervals to go and consult with somebody.

‘I suspect that he’s only a hypochondriac, to be honest.

‘If he is ill, or becomes ill, that would be one way out for Russia to say that the president has stepped down and the war will now be prosecuted by Nikolai Patrushev – who’s every bit as nasty as he is.’

An FSB officer also described the Russian president’s condition as a ‘severe form of rapidly progressing cancer’, as speculation ramped up that Putin was suffering with some form of serious illness amid the invasion of Ukraine.

Oliver Stone, an American director who spent two years interviewing Putin for a documentary series, said the Russian leader had cancer but beat it

Talk of the Russian leader’s terminal illness emerged as part of a secret message from the Russian agent to fugitive and former FSB agent Boris Karpichkov.

The message warned Putin is refusing to wear glasses over fears it would admit a form of weakness, and he is now lashing out at his subordinates with ‘uncontrolled fury’.

Other spooks have also hinted at the strongman’s poor health condition, warning he was unable to maintain concentration for long periods of time without taking breaks ‘for treatment’.

Christopher Steele, a former MI6 Russia desk officer explained Putin was constantly monitored and accompanied by a team of doctors, as rumours of a new Kremlin succession plan continue to swirl.

Whispers about Putin’s health began at least two years ago when he was said to be suffering both Parkinson’s and cancer, but have received renewed attention in the wake of his invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin has not commented on the latest allegations of Putin’s ill-health, but regularly denies he is suffering any kind of difficulties.

General SVR wrote last week: ‘On the night of Monday May 16 to Tuesday May 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin underwent a surgical operation.

‘The fact that Putin should be operated on as soon as possible was insisted upon by his attending physicians.

‘According to the doctors involved in the treatment of the President, the operation was successful.

Ukraine’s top spook Budanov also said the intelligence service is ‘working on’ efforts to release a pair of American volunteers facing death in the eastern Donbas region. 

Budanov (centre, in green) is pictured walking in Kyiv with Pres. Zelensky (second from left)

Alexander John-Robert Drueke, 39, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, from Hartselle, Alabama are being held captive by Russian forces.

President Zelensky told NBC News the pair are ‘heroes’ and vowed to fight for their release. 

The White House has not responded to media questions about a possible prisoner swap.