The British newspaper "Daily Mail" reported on Sunday, citing unnamed intelligence sources, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is suffering from health issues that have affected his decision-making, including the decision to launch the war in Ukraine. Western media has often discussed Putin's health, and in November 2020, the British tabloid "The Sun" claimed that the Russian president was suffering from Parkinson's disease and would step down in early 2021, which did not happen. At that time, the Kremlin denied those reports, which were not based on known sources.
The discussion about Putin's health resurfaced again following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Intelligence sources stated that Putin suffers from a brain disorder caused by dementia, Parkinson's disease, or fits of rage resulting from steroid treatment for cancer. British intelligence believes that the most accurate narrative is that the cancer treatment Putin is undergoing has altered his mental balance. The Kremlin has not commented on these reports so far.
Senior officials in the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance, citing sources close to the Kremlin, believe there is a physiological explanation for Putin's decision to attack Ukraine. Members of this intelligence alliance share increasing reports about Putin's erratic behavior, along with his aggressive posture and the significant distance he insists remains between him and visitors to the Kremlin, as indicated by recent footage of the Russian president.
A security source noted that only human sources can provide a rich picture of Putin's psychological state. They added, "There has been a noticeable change in his decision-making over the past five years or so. Those around him see a tangible change in his reasoning, the clarity of what he says, and how he views the world around him." The source indicated that this failure to think clearly has worsened due to a lack of feedback reflecting the negative aspects of situations, as the Russian president has simply not been informed of the "elements of failure" in the military operation.
Earlier, the newspaper "The Times" reported that Putin placed the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federal Security Service, Sergey Beseda, and his deputy Anatoly Bolyukh under house arrest. This action, not confirmed by another source, came after Putin blamed them for "intelligence failures" in Ukraine.
