May 02, 2022

Is Putin Ailing?


Is Putin Ailing?
Putin then and now. Ailing or just aging? You be the judge. Kremlin.ru

In recent days, it has been reported that President Vladimir Putin will be going under the knife – cancer surgery – and that he will temporarily relinquish his powers to his éminence grise Nikolai Patrushev, the conspiracy loving hawk and "former" FSB head.

This has led to a spate of conjectures about the state of Putin's health, including resurrection of past rumors that he has Parkinson's (most notably citing his jittery movements in this February video of his meeting with Belarusan President Aleksandr Lukashenko).

 

As further evidence, some also cited Putin's unsteadiness, biting of his lips, etc. in last month's Easter Service. Yet in recent speeches there have been no indications of unsteadiness or slurring of speech.

Meanwhile, others have speculated that the president's puffy face is a sign of steroid use - potentially to treat some form of inflammation – or perhaps just plastic surgery.

Finally, another line of conjecture has just arisen from publication of the below Kremlin photo of Putin in his office as he made his horrific announcement of the attack on Ukraine. Notice the strange nodules or swelling on Putin's left hand.

Putin in his office.
February 24, 2022 / Kremlin Press Service

One doctor contacted Russian Life to suggest that this might be evidence of some sort of systemic, fatal illness. Another we contacted offered that it looked most like Dupuyten's contracture, a non-fatal condition caused by knots of tissue forming under the skin and contracting the fingers.

Regardless, the lack of openness and transparency regarding the health of Russia's leaders is nothing new. The reality is we must simply wait and see what develops. Or doesn't.

You Might Also Like

The Body Politic
  • May 01, 1997

The Body Politic

A revealing retrospective on Russian leaders' health, from Lenin to Yeltsin -- what they have sought to cover up, and why.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The fables of Ivan Krylov are rich fonts of Russian cultural wisdom and experience – reading and understanding them is vital to grasping the Russian worldview. This new edition of 62 of Krylov’s tales presents them side-by-side in English and Russian. The wonderfully lyrical translations by Lydia Razran Stone are accompanied by original, whimsical color illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
Jews in Service to the Tsar

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Murder and the Muse

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955