Could be just constipated.

Vladimir Putin may be forced to give up control of the war in Ukraine for days as he is set for cancer surgery, a 'Kremlin insider' has claimed.

The Russian dictator will reportedly nominate hardline Security Council head and ex-FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev to take control of the invasion while he is under the knife.

Shadowy Patrushev, 70, is seen as a key architect of the war strategy so far - and the man who convinced Putin that Kyiv is awash with neo-Nazis.

The extraordinary claims appeared on popular Telegram channel General SVR, which says its source is a well-placed figure in the Kremlin.

[2] Yesterday, at the moment of the #Ukraine attack more than 40 high-ranked Russian military officers gathered in the HQs in #Izium. Reportedly, up to 20 of them are confirmed killed incl. Gen. Andrey Simonov, a commander of electronic warfare forces of the West district.

[3] Gen. Gerasymov suffered a minor shrapnel wound to his right shin without breaking a bone. Source: former minister of Internal Affairs of #Ukraine Arsen Avakov via his sources.

[4] UPDATE - #Ukraine claims that it liquidated at least 200 Russian servicemen incl. 30 high-ranked officers & elite Spetsnaz bodyguards unit as a result of the precision strikes on several Rus. military HQs in the last 5 days. Source: presidential aide A.Arestovych.