- This would be one of the reasons why the Russian president has canceled his traditional annual speech.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the 10th National Congress of Judges in Moscow.

The flu hits the Kremlin and could force Putin to retire in his bunker

A major flu outbreak has hit Kremlin officials amid speculation that Vladimir Putin will imminently go into bunker isolation. The revelation that the virus is sweeping his presidential team comes amid speculation that he may go into hiding before the New Year for health and safety reasons, The Mirror reveals.

In fact, the Russian president has decided to postpone his traditional annual speech until January. It is not ruled out that Putin will deliver a speech before Parliament this month, but the unusual claim by the Kremlin that its closest officials are affected by the flu may be a prelude to a total quarantine and the cancellation of their public appearances. Still, Putin is notoriously obsessed with threats to his health. For example, unfolding its characteristic long table to receive visitors in the Covid crisis.

It is also rumored that the Russian president suffers from serious diseases, such as cancer, which have not been disclosed to the citizens. In fact, they are speculations that have already been made since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, there are reports that it is frightened by Ukraine's ability to attack targets deep inside Russia, and last week it attacked two airbases hundreds of kilometers from the front.

European news outlet Novaya Gazeta reported that "many people in the Kremlin were sick with the flu," attributing the disclosure of the infection to Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.

Most Russians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25, but instead, enjoy a succession of holidays from New Year until after the Orthodox Christmas Day on January 7. Putin routinely addresses Russians with a pre-recorded New Year's message that is broadcast at midnight in all 11 Russian time zones. The Telegram channel, which claims to receive information from inside Kremlin sources, said that "the attacks on military airfields in Russia have seriously alarmed the president."

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