Coup to remove cancer-stricken Putin underway in Russia, Ukrainian intelligence chief says

[groundloop]

Source: Fortune

A coup is underway to oust Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is "very sick" due to cancer, according to Ukraine's head of military intelligence.

"It will eventually lead to the change of leadership of the Russian Federation. This process has already been launched and they are moving into that way," Ukrainian Major Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told the UK's Sky News in an exclusive interview.

An interviewer asked if a coup is underway, to which Budanov replied, "Yes. They are moving in this way and it is impossible to stop it."

[snip]

The Sunday Times recently reported that Putin has blood cancer, citing an unnamed Russian oligarch with close ties to the Kremlin. And a video recently resurfaced showing Putin shaking while welcoming Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in mid-February, according to The Independent, fueling speculation that the despot has Parkinson's disease.

Read more: https://fortune.com/2022/05/14/does-putin-have-cancer-coup-underway-blood-cancer-ukraine-war/

---

Hopefully, if this turns out to be accurate, the next Russian dictator isn't as evil as Putin.

[SheltieLover]

1. Kicking for visibility

[bucolic_frolic]

2. You wanna see global stock markets bounce?

[KS Toronado]

36. Probably happen alright

Oligarchs care more about their money than Ukrainian lives.

[Roy Rolling]

60. It started Thursday afternoon

Markets suddenly stopped plunging. It was like when all the water is sucked away from the beach before a tsunami comes roaring back. Strange market action indeed.

Here’s a short term chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average last week. It abruptly rallied nearly 1,000 points from Thursday’s low.

""

[TexasBushwhacker]

86. I won't have money to invest until June 1st

But if I did, I'd be buying right now.

[dchill]

3. This situation bears watching!

[Maraya1969]

92. I caught that

[yaesu]

4. I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone, even a monster like putin, but I do hope he is discharged from

office ASAP by any means available. Its very hard to believe that any self aware russian authority would let him commit national suicide

[wryter2000]

24. I would generally agree with you

But if his death is the only quick way to end this invasion and terrorism, including the rape of children, then I'm for it. And I hope it comes soon.

[SouthernDem4ever]

54. +1

[COL Mustard]

29. I guess they don't have a 25th Amendment process

But then again, to be fair, we DO have one and didn't use it.

[yaesu]

35. True, we had an unhinged leader for 4 years but even a lawful democracy couldn't remove that

threat so I'd say that was a pretty "yuge" failure.

[ZonkerHarris]

43. They do, but it's spelled "polonium"

[COL Mustard]

53. Or 9 x 19 mm

If you prefer a wetter option.

Personally I don't care how they take him out...as long as they hurry the fuck up.

[Jim__]

5. Even if it's not true, it will shove a bug up Putin's ass.

[live love laugh]

71. I don't believe it. But ... fingers crossed 🤞

[area51]

83. +1 n/t

[milestogo]

6. So is Kevin McCarthy coaching them on how to stage a coup?

I hear he's experienced.

[LW1977]

21. I hear Senator Hawley knows a thing or two about it.

[Turbineguy]

102. Except that they would be on Putin's side.

[mjvpi]

32. Let's hope they're smarter than our clowns

[umroman]

7. y'know

I've had cancer. And I'm ok with Putin having it too.

[Traildogbob]

8. Republicans will

Demand half staff flags if he is ousted or dies.

[enid602]

62. funeral

They can give him a state funeral in the lobby of Trump Tower.

[Goonch]

9. bye

[brush]

13. Yeah, he's sick. Look at that face compared to when...

he was pulling trump's strings 3 or 4 years ago. He's puffed up with steroids or whatever they're treating him with.

Buh-bye, Pootie.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

63. Yep. I don't take this lightly.

My dear, sweet, kind husband has cancer, and it's no laughing matter. But we both have been commenting lately on how Putin appears to no longer have a neck. His head looks like a giant melon plopped right down on his clavicles.

[Frustratedlady]

10. Knowing the ego Putin holds, wouldn't you think he'd decide to lead the troops...

charge the Ukrainians on his horse and commit suicide by war?

Just an idea.

[groundloop]

11. ehhhh.... Putin is no different from American chicken hawks.

Big talk but they refuse to put themselves or their offspring in harms way.

[Trueblue1968]

12. #LockHimUp

[captain queeg]

14. I believe it. He doesn't look well. The concern will be who is his replacement.

I’m sure the Russian hierarchy is getting tired of their military looking bad. They had a fierce reputation that is quickly desolving. Financial situation is suffering.

I wonder what kind of blood cancer he has? There are many, most are treatable to some degree if caught early. If it’s a blood cancer what sort of surgery would they perform!

[ForPeace]

15. Bone marrow transplant possibly

[Ford_Prefect]

16. Newsweek and Business Insider are reporting the same story and source ATM.

https://www.newsweek.com/coup-putin-russia-ukraine-general-cancer-kyrylo-budanov-1706685

https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-coup-underway-impossible-to-stop-ukraine-military-intel-2022-5

[Grokenstein]

17. Even if his replacement is as vile as Putin

if they're smart his handlers will have chosen someone who knows how to keep his head down for a long, long time...until "Great Russian Bear" recovers from the world's response to the invasion.

In the meantime, prepare for the "secret" invasion of the US--election interference, Internet attacks, Republicans--to continue and even intensify.

[drray23]

90. yes absolutely

I think the new leader would have an easy out . He would say that the war in Ukraine was Putin's doing and was wrong and therefore we are withdrawing our troops back to mother Russia where they belong hoping to get a relief from sanctions in order to rebuild.

[PoliticAverse]

18. If you were the head of Ukranian military intelligence and there really was a coup...

trying to take out your enemy, would you announce it to the world?

[davsand]

22. You would if you were stirring the pot to make sure it happens.

If your goal is to provoke an error from a paranoid leader you could always start the rumor of an insurrection and and "watch hilarity ensue" as the leader starts eliminating perceived threats. It's bad form to be killing off people who are part of your inner circle--it makes everyone nervous. If the sudden deaths of a bunch of Russian rich folks is any indicator, I think there might be some "purging" going on already.

If the rumor of a mutiny isn't enough to tip the balance, adding the rumor of a serious--weakening--illness can add even more fuel to the fire.





Laura

[Delphinus]

91. Exactly my thoughts.

May it work quickly and may his replacement end this atrocity.

[mjvpi]

34. Bingo. Stir up the Russian dissent.

[Gore1FL]

19. I don't doubt something is in the works.

I don't think it is as (or can be as) fast-moving as anyone would like.

[Achilleaze]

20. Komrade Trump and the KGOP RepubliKorps will rally to Pooty's side

Right?

Oh wait, I forgot. Republicans.

Whatever.

[cloudythescribbler]

23. Hoping "isn't as evil as Putin" -- insider coups of authoritarian elites don't tend that way

I really don't know what is the best strategic path forward for democracy within Russia today, but clearly whatever insider forces at work that might oust Putin are simply not going to produce a truly democratic outcome. Humanitarian results require a merger of humanitarian intentions w/real savvy and the ability to make that savviness & humanitarian-ness effective.

Now WHERE is that -- in Russia or for that matter in the US? How will planet stave off runaway global warming, I have no idea

[Crowman2009]

25. Maybe they should Putin him out his misery by poisoning him and then throw him out of a window.

[groundloop]

26. Here Vlad, I made this Polonium tea just for you.

[louis-t]

93. How 'bout a nice polonium sandwich?

[lonely bird]

76. Throw him out a window?

The report would be "he died of concrete poisoning".

[PatrickforB]

27. No surprise here. The minute the West began confiscating yachts and

freezing assets, you KNEW the oligarchs wouldn't stand for it. They are cutting their losses by getting rid of Vlad.

[IronLionZion]

28. What goes around, comes around

That's what he gets for trying to topple other governments (US and Ukraine)

[birdographer]

88. I wish...

If what goes around really does come around, when exactly will it be coming around for trump? There was a time I would say this illness is karma, it is his body reflecting his soul, all that--but with cheeto still alive, apparently physically well (if not mentally, which his moron ass-kissing disciples don't care about), and performing evil, I no longer believe that.

[IronLionZion]

89. The Snake and Saw

[Warpy]

30. The bew guy will have come up through the ranks in the Kremlin

and won't be any better than Putin is, if this turns out to be real. While they're spouting antidemocratic propaganda and extolling the virtues of good old Russian fascism on state TV, I don't hold out much hope of any improvement.

I do know there have been persistent rumors about Putin's physical health (which is the least of his worries) over the last six months or so. I haven't seen any obvious signs of illness, but I haven't seen him walk, either.

[oldsoftie]

40. But maybe a new guy is also more aware of reality.

A cut your losses & rebuild your nation kind of guy maybe?

[Warpy]

50. I doubt any of them are left

Putin's been in power for 20 years. He's fired, exiled, imprisoned, defenestrated, or poisoned everybody but his yes men.

[treestar]

77. Once someone gets power

things are different. If Putin's not there to have to be a yes man to, it's that person's turn to have power.

[Eyeball_Kid]

65. The next leader...

will act in Russia's best interests. Clearly, war against UKR is not. So we should expect a withdrawal so that Russia can begin restitution and rehabilitation. Being cut off from imports doesn't sit well.

[oldsoftie]

73. I hope you are correct

[Wednesdays]

81. Well, when Gorbachev became leader of the USSR, they said the same thing

"He's like the new CEO of the same corporation. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

As it turned out, Gorbachev was a game-changer.

[Warpy]

87. He is also not well regarded in Russia

because a lot of people blame him (and not the stupid war in Afghanistan topped off by the Chernobyl catastrophe) for the collapse of the Soviet Union, something that had increased their living standards year after year. Since they've been "free," their living standard has stagnated or declined as one kleptocrat after another has looted the country and reinvested relatively little. People in the big cities are doing OK. People outside them have gotten poorer.

[LLCARD]

31. Although many lives where lost, Putin being removed would be a victory

Although many lives where lost, Putin being removed would be a victory for the Biden administration. The Biden admin lead the way in getting consensus for massive sanctions, providing billions of dollars in military assistance and large amounts of intelligence/ advice.

This could be another very good victory for Biden and USA before mid terms

[oldsoftie]

41. Oil prices would definitely go down. Other shortages may ease as well.

ALL of that would be immensely important in Nov. If we could knock a dollar+ off the price of gas it would be HUGE.

[SouthernDem4ever]

55. But the oil companies aren't charging the right prices now

what makes you think they will lower them then?

[oldsoftie]

72. If the global price of oil drops 20%, or whatever, they can't hide behind it.

Right now oil is near its highs. The US doesnt set oil prices; they're set globally.
And while they certainly are taking advantage of it now, I haven't seen anyone say just what gas prices SHOULD be. I know taxes are different in each state, but how can gas in GA be 3.85 bt in CA its 6.50? There isn't a 3.00 difference in taxes!

[TheRickles]

98. Global oil prices are down 15% from their highs in March, yet gas prices are still peaking.

It's Big Oil calling the shots, not the mythical "free market": https://oilprice.com/oil-price-charts/

[oldsoftie]

99. Our local prices reflect the lower oil. But it was also cheaper when oil was 95 few weeks ago

We were in the 3.20s. At oil's high we were around 4.30. But traders set the price more than the companies. Its just like a stock price; the price changes throughout the day. Thats not the oil companies, its the traders. Hillary Clinton talked about this last time they were sky high. Are they higher than they SHOULD be? Yes. But its not ALL the fault of the oil companies. The traders have a larger share of the blame IMO. Along with Putin of course. The last dollar is on HIM.

[3825-87867]

33. Maybe Vlad's Republican friends...

can get him an emergency supply of Ivermectin and Bleach. I hear it does wonders for everything.
Rand certainly wouldn't block that now, would he?

[Joinfortmill]

48. Sounds like a plan.

[Deminpenn]

37. Skepticism is probably warranted

It could be targeted at Russian troops in Ukraine to demoralize them or for inside Russia although there is no independent news source to carry it. Even if this news did get through, given the daily drumbeat of state propaganda, few would believe it.

[maxsolomon]

38. Fun dayn moyl zu Got's oyem, Ukraine Intelligence Chief.

Sounds like wishful thinking to me.

[Evolve Dammit]

39. Putin has planned his replacement. God help Ukraine and Russia. The people have no idea what is

happening "in their name."

[ratchiweenie]

42. I thought Putin had chosen his successor who was a protoge FSB officer and just as bad

as he is. Maybe that isn't who the coup people would choose though.

[LudwigPastorius]

44. I wonder if someone gave Vlad a surreptitious blast of radiation.

After, his own predilection for dispatching his enemies with polonium, that would be some real karma.

[Escurumbele]

45. I hope that is true, it will also show what kind of a "Genius" Putin is.

I know someone who at a party decided to talk politics with me, said "Putin is a genius", just repeating what his idol had said...Well, now we are seeing what a genius the guy is who is loosing an invasion.

Come to think of it, GW Bush also lost an invasion...I always thought invasions were supposed to be winning military adventures...but then again...GW Bush, Putin...hmm.

[Demovictory9]

46. I believe he is ill given that blanket on his lap at the parade. Even the elderly present

didnt have a blanket.

[Joinfortmill]

47. Can't happen soon enough.

[Raine]

49. PLEASE let this be true! 🙏 nt

[colsohlibgal]

51. Encouraging News

Come on you tyrant, hurry up and depart this earth.

[lastlib]

52. Blood cancer. Damn.

I was hoping they could operate on the cancer and remove the Putin. This blood cancer wouldn't be a good candidate for that. Maybe it will cure itself; I hope they can rid it of that awful disease.....

[SuperCoder]

56. But why would they...

...be reporting on this in the mass media where Putrid can, I don't know...actually read it?

[herding cats]

61. It's propaganda. Designed to cause unrest within his circle.

He's paranoid enough it's possible these things leave barbs behind.

[Xolodno]

57. Yes...and so was Kim Jun Il

...and the Chinese President during Tiananmen Square.

These type of rumors always pop up. One thing it does tell me, the opposite is true.

If there was any quiet attempt at a coup, announcing it just brought down the entire conspiracy. What they are really hoping, Putin gets unnerved and starts rolling heads. Doubt if it will work.

[eggplant]

58. I expect he will die of lead poisoning, causing him to fall out a fifth story window. n/t

[Skittles]

59. as with Trump

let me know when something actually happens

[Lithos]

64. I think this is wishful thinking

or something to throw some chaos into the Russian government - a mental psyche...

I would not doom scroll over this - if it happens - it will be very apparent - if not, then just not.

Not something to waste a ton of anxiety over.

L-

[duforsure]

66. With the dramatic changes seen in putin's looks and his actions,

I think this could be true, and with the military, oligarchs, and FSB, and the russian people fed up with putin and his illegal war , and all his lies , look at this as a opportunity for change. His picked replacement will not last long, but the next one could bring real change for russia and its people. putin has already lost this war, and his propaganda war on the truth, and maybe soon his battle with his illness.

[disndat]

84. Maybe a scheme to remove Putin, or

maybe, even with Putin's approval to save face from his failing war. The Oligarchs are hurting with the
sanctions and the threat to liquidate their wealth to pay for the massive destruction in Ukraine.

[spike jones]

100. During WWII, there was a plot by Nazi generals to kill Hitler.

It failed. They did not want to get rid of him because of the evil things he was causing, but because he was losing the war. They wanted him gone so they could take over and win the war.

[Ziggysmom]

67. Using Putins illness or possible death as a way to end the Ukraine war, could this be their

"excuse" to bail out if this failed mess?

[LudwigPastorius]

68. Even if this is true,...

the oligarchs would appoint Medvedev to fill the slot. ...another asshole.

However, I believe Russia could back off of some of its demands, and real negotiations to end the war could begin under him.

[tavernier]

79. Do we think they would rid themselves of Putin

to turn around and go in the same direction with his chosen successor? Not sure I believe that.

[duforsure]

69. We'll likely never know if putin is taken out,

And they'll say he passed from his illness, but I would be shocked if he wasn't taken out to end the nightmare he's caused for so many. He also made a lot of enemies with his murdering of his own.

[DFW]

70. I talked to our Ukrainian neighbor yesterday about all this. He says it's typical pre-regime change

What is going on now is S.O.P. for when change is looming. Have one group claiming dire health problems (whether true or not is not relevant), and another group denying it. This way, if and when he is forcibly "retired," the timing and manner are open to those who will ultimately make those decisions. If Russia shold regain the upper hand in the conflict AND with their economy, all rumors of his illness were just so much western propaganda. If he gets removed, he succumbs to the illness he was rumored to have had all along. He said it was this way with Stalin (there is some strong evidence for that), Andropov (kidney failure?) and Chernyenko. At least when they ditched Khrushchev, it was in the open, and he survived to a genuine retirement. He is absolutely confident that Putin will not be the leader of Russia by the end of the year. I find that a rather bold prediction, but he's the one who grew up and lived under Russian rule, not me.

Our neighbor has some serious military experience, having been sent with the Soviet Army to fight in Afghanistan. He says that although their weapons have improved somewhat since then, their tactics and lilitary strategy have not. Although he doesn't hold out much hope of good intentions on the part of any successor to Putin, what may force some pragmatism into the equation could be the fact that Russia is probably running out of trained military manpower and non-nuclear armaments. They will not, like Hitler, resort to inducting 14 year old boys as a last-ditch military force.

Unilike the Third Reich in 1945, today's Russia remains uninvaded, with its considerable natural resources intact (or what 70 years of "socialist" mismanagement left of it, anyway, and that's still plenty), and an economy that could be quickly started up again as soon as it is re-integrated into the world economy. Any new leader will most likely be no stranger to the corruption that made Putin rich. But you can't enjoy the spoils of looting your country if there's nothing to loot, or no place to sell it if you find something. If you already enjoy all the perks of being the absolute ruler of Russia, whether you have $500 billion stashed somewhere or "a mere" $25 billion stashed somewhere, it isn't going to matter much. If all you need to do is snap your fingers for any food, lodging, transportation or assassination you desire, you don't need a lot of extra pocket money, after all.

[Hekate]

101. Interesting. Thanks as always.

[Pachamama]

74. Unfortunately the entire Kremlin is a cancer and they all need radical removal - Stage 4

Putin isn’t the only festering cancer in that country and it’s operational infrastructure. It is rotten to its core and throughout with corruption and kleptocracy.

I see little to no chance of things changing dramatically from where they are now for Russia until there quite literally is a massive uprise of its citizenry and there could be a complete rebuilding with someone like Navalny as the future presidency leading the way and hoping to rebuild and gain the trust from the outside world again. This is a big dream because unfortunately the cancer of Russia permeates it’s core and even many of the people who are ordinary citizens who have been brainwashed by decades of propaganda and culturally from the time of Stalin are distrusting of even each other.

[NCjack]

75. Perhaps his medical team will be given an offer that they can't refuse.

[paleotn]

78. We know there's been conflict in the Russian power structure from the start of this invasion....

with powerful players being removed and some simply "disappearing". However, it's hard to sift the truth from the propaganda. Not faulting Ukraine. Propaganda is a weapon in any conflict, sometimes to sow discord in the enemy camp. I hope it's true, and brings a quick end to this conflict. But I also worry about who will then take charge of Russia's nuclear arsenal. Russia tends to simply swap one strongman for another.

[infullview]

80. Let's hope the coup comes soon.

I just did a little research on Putin's symptoms and what type of blood cancer he may have. Myeloma is likely, and is treated with steroids which explains his erratic paranoid behavior. The downside is you can live for 5 to 10 years after diagnosis. No idea how far alone he is, but probably not far enough to die any time soon.

[Wednesdays]

82. The steroids also explain Putin's "moon face." nt

[Better Days Ahoy]

85. I have no problem wishing a painful death ...

... upon the evil among us. I will sleep soundly knowing that Putin's "bad blood" cancer is an appropriate way to end the disease of his life. Wishing the same upon the leader of Belarus. No mercy. F them all.

[lunatica]

94. Putin must be very paranoid by now if this is true

For a murderous dictator to watch himself be ousted while in his hospital bed can’t possibly be fun. He must be aware that tyrannical dictators never have a retirement plan.

[ananda]

95. I'm afraid he'll be worse.

The coup-ers are very likely the worst of the worst.

[C Moon]

96. Good point. MAGA types. But mixed with selfish billionaire status.

[soldierant]

97. "Hopefully, if this turns out to be accurate, the next Russian dictator isn't as evil as Putin."

We can hope, but I wouldn't bet any important ody parts on it. Their bench, so to speak, is made up of oligarchs, and oligarchy is not good at developing leaders with empathy.

[DFW]

103. My Ukie neighbor thought Putin would be gone by December, maybe even September

Of course, in the opaque world of Kremlin intrigue, allegiance is about solid as vodka at room temperature. Putin could be out, in again, and out again within a weekend. He didn't stay where he is for this long by being careless. Any group or individual intent on removing him will have made extravagant arrangements to make sure their "replacement process" doesn't backfire on them, because if it does, the consequences would be somewhat more drastic than exile to a luxury Manhattan condo.

[getagrip_already]

104. There is no coup "underway"......

If there were there would be army units openly fighting at the kremlin.

That's not to say skullduggery is not afoot. That is likely a constant.

But wishing a coup is not conducting a coup.

And like it or not, putin likely has thousands of loyal agents who will disappear anyone who doesn't even appear to be enthusiastically supporting him.

Doctors and nurses surely know both they and their families will be tortured and killed if putting dies under their care.

There will be no medication errors or slips of a blade. If the patient dies, the staff will suffer worse.