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VLADIMIR Putin is terrfied, sickly and facing a fate just like his toppled dictator pal Bashar al-Assad, a former CIA chief has warned.
Ralph Goff, ex-CIA chief of operations for Europe and Eurasia, said the aging Russian tyrant is preoccupied with his health.
And while he fumbles with trying to keep well, there is likely to be fermenting dissent in his elites.
He said Putin, 72, could fall very quickly if his oligarch pals turn on him – potentially losing power in a sudden uprising like Assad.
Goff said the Russian president’s health and well-being is his “top concern”.
The ex-spook – a 35-year CIA veteran – told The Sun: “Putin is a guy who’s afraid of Covid, afraid of being sick.
“His personal health and well-being are his top concern.
“Putin may have the same fate as Bashar al-Assad who fell suddenly without warning.
“I think this is one of the more likely outcomes for Putin – a threat that he doesn’t even see coming, comes out of nowhere, and he’s gone.”
Like other intelligence chiefs, Goff – who served in Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia – believes Putin “sees a threat in the elite”.
He said: “It’s similar to the Italian mafia organised crime in the United States – where if the head was judged bad for business, then the they would get together and take him out.
“So Putin’s got to watch out. He’s got to watch the economy.
“He’s got to watch the loyalty of the oligarchs.”
Despite leading a war effort that has been devastating to Russia, Vlad is “still popular”, Goff said.
But he added: “It’s a huge scale of devastation and loss. And that can undermine just about anybody.”
What we know about Putin’s health
By Henry Holloway, Deputy Foreign Editor
VLADIMIR Putin has long been rumoured to be suffering from poor health.
Russia has always insisted that the judo-loving, horse-riding and often shirtless tyrant is in perfect health.
Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky even stated as fact earlier this year that Putin will “die soon”.
From trembling “jelly” legs and bloated features to whispered diagnoses of cancer and Parkinson’s, speculation has exploded that the ageing despot is battling multiple serious illnesses behind the Kremlin walls.
Bombshell spy leaks have suggested Putin is fighting pancreatic, thyroid, and even prostate cancer.
An investigation by Proekt media revealed that a top thyroid cancer surgeon visited Putin no fewer than 35 times at his Black Sea resort, Sochi.
The tyrant is also reportedly followed constantly by a neurosurgeon, raising fears of neurological or oncological issues.
Footage of Putin greeting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in April 2022 showed him trembling uncontrollably, his knees appearing to buckle as he attempted a handshake.
He has since been caught in multiple clips tapping his foot, gripping tables for support and slouching awkwardly in meetings – including during a 12-minute briefing with defence chief Sergei Shoigu where his hand clutched a desk throughout.
Alongside cancer and Parkinson’s rumours, some reports have also linked Putin to multiple sclerosis (MS) – a chronic condition affecting the brain and spinal cord.
Though less widely reported, speculation about MS has emerged due to Putin’s unsteady gait, rigid posture, and occasional difficulty with movement – all potential symptoms of the disease.
Videos have shown him walking with stiffness, appearing to drag his legs, and struggling with coordination.
As the war rumbles on, Goff revealed the recipe for Ukraine success – more weapons from Europe and targeting Russian assets.
He said: “When the Ukrainians are successfully armed and prepared, they can hold out – and there’s an increased chance of forcing some sort of settlement.
“If not, Putin can continue this war for as long as he likes – to the point where the Ukrainians are forced to kind of seek a very disadvantageous peace, or ceasefire.”
Goff warns it would be “very unstable” with “no guarantee that some sort of war won’t break out in the future“.
And outside Russia, Goff believes a regime change in Iran would have a direct impact on Putin’s war.
He said: “A change in regime would undermine that support and help isolate Russia just a little bit more.”
