Russian president Vladimir Putin during a videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia (Picture: AP)

Vladimir Putin has become more withdrawn in recent days due to the side effects of medication, Kremlin insiders have claimed.

Rumours about the health of the Russian president have circulated ever since the invasion last February, with Parkinson’s disease and terminal cancer among his alleged ailments.

According to sources claiming to have knowledge of Putin’s inner circle, his medical treatment has left him ‘dizzy and weak’ and he hardly has any visitors.

Footage claiming to show symptoms of his Parkinson’s has not been independently verified, and the details of his health are a closely guarded secret.

But reports on Russian social media channels claim Putin was undergoing therapy with drugs which ‘in addition to the therapeutic effect, cause weakness, dizziness, and lack of appetite’.

They continued: ‘This does not have the best effect on the president’s psycho-emotional state.’

The channels, which have links to people close to the president, say he is becoming increasingly isolated as a result.

The reports said: ‘According to the close circle of Russian President Putin, he has become withdrawn, laconic, practically does not receive anyone, and in general, looks deeply concerned in recent days.’

Putin spent this morning marking the 80th anniversary of the Siege of Leningrad in Saint Petersburg (Picture: Sputnik)

Putin’s health is a closely guarded secret (Picture: Kremlin Pool)

There have been rumours that Putin is terminally ill since last year (Picture: Reuters)

The reports also reference concerns that Putin could be prepared to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine if it looks like his country is facing total defeat.

They said: ‘He is going to play, if not all in, then by raising the stakes to a critical level.

‘In the event of the failure of the Russian Army’s impending offensive at the front and the loss of control even over part of the occupied territories, it will be impossible to convince the elites of the possibility of a “victorious” exit from the military adventure.’

‘In this case, the use of nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine is possible,’ they added. ‘But this will lead to a general catastrophe for both Putin and all representatives of the elite without exception.’

Insiders added: ‘The war exists in the head of one terminally ill man with a disturbed psyche who is trying to take as many people as possible with him to a mythical “paradise”.

‘This should be understood by everyone who participates or is going to participate in hostilities on the side of the Putin regime and follow the order to use nuclear weapons.’

Rescue services at the scene of the helicopter crash in Brovary, near Kyiv (Picture: EPA)

This morning, three top officials in Ukraine’s interior ministry were killed in a helicopter crash east of Kyiv.

Minister Denys Monastyrskyi, First Deputy Minister Yevgeny Yenin, and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovich were among 18 people who died when the aircraft crashed beside a nursery.

It was reported that nine of those who died were in the helicopter, while the other nine were on the ground, including three children.

An official at the ministry said: ‘Whether it was sabotage, a technical malfunction, a violation of flight safety rules, we will soon find out.

‘My deepest condolences to the families and friends of Denis, Yevhen and all the families of those killed in this terrible disaster.’

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Kremlin insiders say the Russian president has felt nasty side effects from his medication.