Long periods spent in isolation during the Covid pandemic may have fuelled Vladimir Putin’s ‘paranoia’ and ‘bunker mentality’, experts believe.
The Russian president had only limited contact with people over the last two years which left him with too much time ‘stewing in his own fears’, it is claimed.
Even those in his inner circle had to isolate for two weeks before a face-to-face meeting.
Meanwhile, his closest contacts had to provide faecal samples several times a week to check for infection.
Mr Putin’s state of mind has come under scrutiny after he announced the invasion of Ukraine in ‘rambling’ and ‘apocalyptic’ fashion.
Reports suggested he is suffering from ‘brain fog’ caused by long Covid.
Fears were raised again after US senator Marco Rubio suggested that the 69-year-old dictator is mentally unwell.
‘I wish I could share more, but for now I can say it’s pretty obvious to many that something is off with #Putin,’ the Florida Republican tweeted.
‘He has always been a killer, but his problem now is different & significant. It would be a mistake to assume this Putin would react the same way he would have 5 years ago.’
Tatiana Stanovaya, who has worked for leading Moscow-based think tanks, said Putin no longer asks for advice but ‘sets tasks and demands and they are implemented’.
She told The Times: ‘He has withdrawn into himself during the past two years. He has become distanced from the bureaucratic machinery, from the establishment, from the elite.’
Andrey Kortunov, head of the Russian International Affairs Council, told the BBC the decision to invade ‘surprised and shocked’ Putin’s own officials.
Many are ‘devastated to see what is happening’, he added.