Vladimir Putin is reportedly set to have surgery following a fall and is also preparing to move his “loved ones” to a huge bunker facility to celebrate New Year's Eve.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, 70, allegedly slipped coming down stairs at his Moscow home and bruised his tailbone, but his office has denied the claims.
The Russian leader was seen overnight walking gingerly but unaided down the steps of his aircraft in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, for a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union.
An aide followed him off the plane carrying a small back case possibly containing body armour amid claims Putin has ramped up his personal security in recent weeks amid assassination fears.
The bag did not appear to resemble his “nuclear football” from which he can launch an atomic war, which is sometimes seen carried close to him.
Putin, 70, was also seen awkwardly climbing steps in light snow to meet summit host Sadyr Japarov, president of the central Asian state.
The Telegram channel General SVR, which claims to have inside sources, said that on Putin's return from Bishkek he will undergo a small operation after discomfort caused by the injury to his coccyx.
“Putin will have a simple surgical operation. The fall from the stairs last week, which resulted in a bruised tailbone, which we talked about, did not go unnoticed and caused new problems not directly related to the bruise,” said the channel, which has repeatedly claimed the Kremlin leader is suffering from undisclosed medical problems.
The Kremlin has insisted that Putin has no medical issues.
Separately, the channel has claimed that Putin and his close family are to spend the New Years Eve in a bunker east of the Ural Mountains.
Normally he brings in the new year in Sochi, by the Black Sea as Russians do not mark Christmas on December 25 but have a break over New Year and Orthodox Christmas Day on January 7.
Putin routinely addresses Russians with a pre-recorded New Year message which is broadcast at midnight rolling across his country’s 11 time zones.
The Telegram channel said: “Putin has begun to spend more time in bunker-type premises.
“And the president and his loved ones [will celebrate] the New Year in a bunker located behind the Ural Mountains, instead of the residence in Sochi, as previously planned.”
Rumours claim one bunker is an underground city capable of housing 100,000 members of his hierarchy plus their support staff in the event of impending Armageddon, it has been reported.
