VLADIMIR Putin's doctors were scrambled to his side after the Russian president suffered "coughing fits" and "chest pains" just before his big speech, Kremlin sources have claimed.
Putin today announced the mobilisation of Russian forces in a shock announcement that could see some 300,000 reservists called to the frontline in Ukraine.
Telegram channel General SVR, which claims to be run by Kremlin insiders, wrote that Vlad had fallen ill moments before his address.
"When the president came out and preparations for filming began, he began to cough frequently," the post read.
"Several attempts to start recording an appeal were frustrated due to coughing.
"After the fourth unsuccessful attempt to record an appeal, doctors were called to the president, to whom Putin also complained of chest pains.
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"The doctors advised to postpone the shooting and leave with them for examination, which was done."
In the post, which can't be independently verified, the supposed Kremlin insider suggested that the Russian tyrant may have faked having a health problem in order to delay the announcement and buy himself more time.
Vlad was originally due to speak yesterday evening, but his planned address never went ahead on Tuesday, with no explanation given by the Kremlin.
"People close to the president know his pathological indecision and uncertainty in making decisions, especially key ones," the post went on.
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It comes as Putin's close ally has launched a blistering attack on the UK, threatening to unleash Russia's devastating arsenal of nukes on Western targets including London.
Sergei Markov, a former member of the Russian Duma and close adviser to Putin blamed the escalating tensions in Ukraine on the actions of the UK and the US.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Markov reiterated Putin's threat to use both tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine and broader nuclear strikes on Western targets including the UK.
He also bizarrely denied that Russia had invaded Ukraine, and instead said they were "liberating" the country from "neo-Nazi" groups and Western forces who were using Ukrainian soldiers as "slaves".
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"Everybody in the world is thinking about nuclear war now," he said, "and this is due to the crazy actions of President Joe Biden, and British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss."
Insisting that "Russia doesn't want everybody in the world to die," Markov still warned that if the UK continues to be an "aggressor" against Russia, they are bringing the threat to themselves.
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