Vladimir Putin set to vanish for cancer surgery, mystery Russian Telegram account says

dailystar.co.uk:

Putin is set to undergo cancer surgery in the "near future". The General SVR Telegram channel first raised issues of Putin’s health — including abdominal cancer and Parkinson’s — some 18 months ago.

It says its source is a well-placed Kremlin figure. The Russian leader, 69, is said to be planning to transfer "control" of the Ukraine invasion to security council security secretary and former KGB counterintelligence officer Nikolai Patrushev while he goes under the knife.Patrushev, 70, is seen as a key architect of the Ukrainian war strategy and the man who convinced Putin that Kyiv was awash with neo-Nazis, reports the Mirror.The General SVR Telegram said: "Putin was recommended to undergo surgery, the date of which is being discussed and agreed.

There seems to be no particular urgency, but it cannot be delayed either.”It suggested Putin has already delayed surgery, which is said to have been scheduled for the second half of April.It's now unlikely to take place before he presides over the grandiose Red Square 9 May Victory Day commemoration of the defeat of Hitler.Detailing the claims, the outlet said: “I don't know for exactly how long [he will be incapacitated after the surgery]… I think it'll be for a short time."It has has previously claimed Putin also suffers from Parkinson's disease and a "schizoaffective disorder".

The latter is defined as “a mental health disorder that is marked by a combination of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression or mania”.The Kremlin has always strongly denied Putin has medical problems and portrays him in robust health, even during several mysterious absences in recent years.Want all the latest shocking news and views.