Vladimir Putin set to vanish for cancer surgery, mystery Russian Telegram account says Vladimir Putin has secretly nominated Nikolai Patrushev, a former KGB counterintelligence officer who once headed the FSB, to take “control” of Russia while he is incapacitated. Vladimir Putin may soon vanish for a period as he is due to undergo surgery linked to cancer, according to a new claim. He has allegedly secretly nominated his hardline security council security secretary Nikolai Patrushev - a former KGB counterintelligence officer - to take “control” of Russia while he is incapacitated. Shadowy Patrushev, 70, is seen as a key architect...
