Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly slipped down five stairs and soiled himself at his official residence in Moscow, as speculation mounts about the 70-year-old’s declining health.
The Telegraph Channel claims Mr Putin landed on his coccyx or tailbone during the fall on Wednesday evening, which caused him to “involuntarily defecate” due to the “cancer affecting his stomach and bowels”.
The anti-Kremlin channel which claims to monitor Mr Putin’s health said his three bodyguards and team of medics rushed to his aide.
“Three bodyguards helped the president get to the nearest couch and summoned medics, who are on duty at the residence,” General SVR said, the New York Post reports.
“Nothing critical [was diagnosed], the president’s condition closer to nighttime was stable, he can get around on his own, with pain in the coccyx area while sitting being the only thing that bothers him.”
It comes just over a month after the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence claimed the the Russian leader is in such bad shape that he is now using at least three body doubles.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov told Mail on Sunday , that the Ukrainian secret service had previously detected body doubles standing in for Mr Putin on a number of “special occasions”.
However, he alleges they have now become a “usual practice” for the 70-year-old.
“We know specifically about three people that keep appearing, but how many there are, we don’t know,” Major General Budanov told the British publication.
“They all had plastic surgery to look alike,” he said.
However, Mr Budanov claims the one thing “that gives them away” is their height.
“It’s visible in videos and pictures. Also gesturing, body language and earlobes, since they are unique for every person,” he added.
Rumours the Russian President may be using a body double first began swirling in July, after the 69-year-old arrived in Tehran for a summit looking more awkward, energetic, and animated than usual.
