M16: Possible that Putin already dead

A SECRET FOR WEEKS

- JOHN WARD

VLADIMIR Putin may already be dead, British intelligence chiefs believe.

Senior MI6 bosses say the Russian president has been seriously ill and that if he had died, his cronies would hush it up to keep power for as long as possible.

A source told the Daily Star Sunday that Putin's recent media appearances had very probably been pre-recorded.

A body double may also have been used at public events like the Moscow Victory Day Parade earlier this month.

One intelligence source said: "Putin is very ill and when he dies his death will be kept secret for weeks, if not months.