Vladimir Putin is terminally ill with cancer and will die very soon, Ukraine’s military intelligence head has claimed.
Ukraine’s intelligence chief said he knows Putin is terminally ill with cancer. He said intelligence sources close to Putin have confirmed his death is imminent.
Kyrylo Budanov, without providing evidence, said he knows the Russian despot’s death is imminent due to an ongoing illness from cancer, he said in an interview with ABC News on Wednesday.
ABC News’ Britt Clennett asked Budanov if Putin was terminally ill, with the spy chief immediately responding ‘of course’.
Budanov, in his non-native English, added: ‘He is ill long period.
‘Asked when he thinks Putin’s death will come, Budanov said that he thought it would be very soon.
‘I think very fast. I hope.’
Speculation about Putin’s health has been ongoing for several years. The 70-year-old Russian leader has been rumoured to be suffering from cancer, Parkinson’s Disease and numerous other ailments.
‘We think it’s cancer,’ Budanov said.
‘We know it from human sources’ that are close to Putin, he added.
Budanov was also asked what he thought would happen following Putin’s death, whether someone from within the Kremlin would take over and if the war in Ukraine would continue.
He responded saying he expected that there would be ‘a replacement and transfer of power’, suggesting that this would be to one of Putin’s cronies.
‘This war should be ended before [Putin] is dying,’ Budanov added.
The reports of Putin’s poor health have been supported by the cancellation of a number of planned trips and public engagements.
Just last week, on December 28, Putin pulled out of a planned trip to Pskov, a city near the Estonian border.
The cancellation was officially blamed on ‘unfavourable flying conditions’ but weather forecasts suggested the skies were clear.
