How is Putin? US data breach gives new clues

Rumors about the health of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin have been circulating for months. Now leaked documents from the US Secret Service provide new clues. The editorial network Germany (RND) has a document that mainly deals with the differences of opinion in the Russian leadership. But one sentence makes you sit up and take notice.

According to the documents, Russian Chief of Staff Valeriy Gerasimov was planning to end the war in Ukraine — and looking for a convenient March 5 date. The reason for this is given in the newspaper, according to the RND: “Putin would start another chemotherapy that day and will then be unable to influence the warfare.”

Many reports of possible cancer

Every day new details emerge from leaked documents from the US secret services. However, caution is also advised: it is doubtful whether any of these documents actually come from the US secret services. In addition, there are fake or modified versions in circulation.

This restriction also applies to the papers held by the RND. The editors interviewed experts who consider the papers to be authentic and largely unadulterated. So it could be another indication of Putin’s possible cancer. In January, the Ukrainian secret service announced that Putin was seriously ill and would not live long.

Apparently the Chief of Staff wanted to end the war

But the possible illness is just a side note in the documents. Above all, they show how divided the Russian leadership is. According to the RND, Gerasimov, along with National Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, planned to move troops south and sabotage the war. The goal was to “cancel the special operation”. In Russia, the offensive war against Ukraine is called a special operation.

The newspapers, if their content is true, show how well the US intelligence services are in the Russian leadership. In addition, Gerasimov would probably have to reckon with personal consequences. (t online)