Since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine last month, a number of senior political figures have speculated on whether Putin may be suffering from psychological or physical health issues. Earlier this month, White House Press Secretary Jen Paski questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s mental state during a press conference. “He’s obviously been quite isolated during Covid,” Ms Paski said. But I will tell you that the rhetoric, actions, and justifications that he has provided for his actions are deeply concerning to us.”

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Marco Rubio stated that Putin appears to have “neuro-psychological” issues.

“I wish I could share more, but for now, I can say it’s pretty obvious to many that something is wrong with Putin,” he added.

“He’s always been a killer, but his problem now is unique and serious.” It would be a mistake to expect Putin to react the same way he did five years ago.”

Claims that Putin is suffering from physical problems have also circulated in the last month among a number of people with alleged Kremlin sources.

According to senior members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, Putin’s “increasingly erratic behaviour” and bloated face indicate that the President is suffering from the side effects of medical treatment.

For the past decade of Putin’s presidency, there have been persistent allegations that he is in poor health.

Mr. Black, a former British army veteran who reports on terrorism and intelligence, noted in 2014 that persistent claims about Putin’s health “are back with a vengeance.”

Mr Black claimed in The Week that Putin’s pardon and release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky after ten years in prison for fraud was a sign that Putin’s health was deteriorating.

“Some have suggested [Putin] is clearing his conscience,” Mr Black said.

Later that year, following Putin’s illegal annexation of Crimea, an article citing a number of “sources” close to the President, including an unnamed German doctor, claimed he had terminal cancer.

“Putin was allegedly being treated by a doctor from the old East Germany,” New York Post journalist Richard Johnson wrote.

“The doctor had been experimenting with different treatments, including steroid shots, which would explain Putin’s puffy appearance.”

“However, I’m told the physician resigned recently, claiming he was mistreated by Putin’s security detail.”

The Kremlin vehemently denied allegations that Putin had pancreatic cancer, telling those reporting on Putin’s health to “bite their tongue.”

In response to questions about Putin’s cancer, Dmitry Pskov, Putin’s spokesperson, told journalists that they “shouldn’t bank on it.”

According to RIA Novosti, the spokesperson added, less aggressively, that “everything is fine.”

In 2020, Valery Solovei, a prominent critic of Putin, made additional claims that he was suffering from cancer.

Mr Solovoi claimed that his sources “at the epicentre of decision making” told him that Putin had surgery in February 2020 for a cancer diagnosis, and that the President also had Parkinson’s.

According to Mail Online, Mr Solovoi claimed, “One is a psycho-neurological problem, the other is a cancer problem.”

“If anyone is curious about the precise diagnosis, I’m not a doctor, and I have no ethical right to reveal these issues.”