Vladimir Putin’s Chechen warlord crony may have only added fuel to a rumor he was trying to dismiss by insisting his Russian patron is not in a coma.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the bloodthirsty tough guy who calls himself “Putin’s foot soldier” and reportedly personally led his men into Ukraine to help with Moscow’s invasion, posted a recording on his Telegram social media channel,
“I read that our president had fallen into a coma and they are looking for a replacement right now,” Kadyrov scoffed, dismissing the claim as “ridiculous nonsense.”
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov published a video of the fighting between Chechen soldiers and Ukrainian extremists in the LNR pic.twitter.com/4o0YRNwUr5
— Spriteer (@spriteer_774400) June 15, 2022
The problem with Kadyrov’s assurances seemed to be that few, if any, others seemed to have had heard Putin was in a coma. While there has been speculation about Putin’s health, Kadyrov may have simply added fuel to the fire. Kadyrov said he has recently spoken with Putin and obsequiously described how he found the Russian leader to be in good health.
“He has a very cheerful voice, a commanding voice, and he is ready to complete the special operation without harming the Ukrainian people and the state as much as possible,” Kadyrov said.
Speculation about Putin’s health has swirled since the invasion began in late February. Earlier this month, U.S. classified intelligence reportedly claimed that Putin underwent treatment in April for advanced cancer.
“Putin’s grip is strong but no longer absolute,” one of three intelligence officers from three different intelligence agencies who read the report told Newsweek. “The jockeying inside the Kremlin has never been more intense during his rule, everyone sensing that the end is near.”
In addition, photos have shown Putin keeping long distances from his advisers, gripping the edges of a table while meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in late April, and appearing bloated, as if he had undergone cancer treatments, during a May 9 “Victory Day” appearance before his countrymen.
Kadyrov, 45, is known for his ruthless, 15-year rulership of the majority-Muslim Chechen region. Blacklisted by Western nations, Kadyrov has earned Putin’s loyalty, generous subsidies from Moscow and a long leash.
When Putin invaded Ukraine, Kadyrov jumped at the chance to prove the loyalty and fierceness of his region’s fighters. He accompanied them personally into Ukraine, which is about 1,000 miles northwest of Chechnya.
Kadyrov became president of Chechnya in 2007, three years after his father, former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, was assassinated. The elder Kadyrov had fought against Russia during the First Chechen War in 1994, but switched allegiances to Russia during the Second Chechen War.