Vladimir Putin set for cancer surgery, to hand over temporary power to ex-KGB chief amid war with Ukraine: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin may be forced to give up control of the war in Ukraine for days as he is set for cancer surgery, and will reportedly nominate hardline former FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev to take temporary control of the invasion while he is under the knife, a Kremlin insider has claimed.

Patrushev, the 70-year-old incumbent Secretary of Russia`s Security Council, is seen as a key architect of the war strategy so far, and the man who convinced Putin that Kiev is awash with neo-Nazis, said a Daily Mail report.

The extraordinary claims appeared on popular Telegram channel General SVR, which says its source is a well-placed figure in the Kremlin, the report added.

Such a move would be surprising since under the Russian constitution, power should pass solely to the Prime Minister, t reported.

General SVR reported that Putin has abdominal cancer and Parkinson`s 18 months ago.