According to a recent report, it has been revealed that Vladimir Putin‘s staff, including prominent politicians, governors, and members of Russia’s elite, have been consuming vodka more frequently than before due to increased stress caused by the war in Ukraine.
Putin’s admin staff stressed by Ukraine war start their day with vodka
Several sources within Russia’s political and business circles, as cited by the independent Russian-language news website Verstka, have confirmed the growing prevalence of alcoholism among Putin’s associates.
“Let’s put in this way: Previously, not everyone within the president’s administration would start the day with a glass of vodka,” a familiar source told the news outlet. “Now, I know many more people who do, and for some, a glass has turned into a bottle.”
Verstka’s report reveals that alcohol addiction has affected even high-ranking officials, including former president Dmitry Medvedev, who currently holds the position of deputy chairman of the Security Council. Interestingly, it is reported that Medvedev frequently composes provocative Telegram posts, threatening the West with nuclear annihilation, while under the influence of alcohol.
Additionally, there have been claims that Medvedev has been personally producing homemade liquor on his estate near the Volga River city of Plyos. He reportedly offers bottles of this moonshine as gifts to government officials and foreign leaders visiting him.
Alarming rise in alcohol consumption among Russian officials
According to a source within the Kremlin, there has been a significant shift in the alcohol consumption trend at official state banquets in Moscow. Previously, guests were served no more than one bottle of alcohol each. However, the insider reveals that the intake has now escalated to one-and-a-half to two bottles per guest.
This increase in alcohol consumption is not exclusive to Moscow alone; it appears that high-ranking officials in various regions across Russia are resorting to alcohol as much as their counterparts in the capital city.
“Governors are skipping meetings, using illegal substances … they show up at events hammered,” one source told the website.
One insider revealed that an unidentified governor, who has a history of alcohol indulgence, is currently on an extended drinking binge.
“The day begins with [staffers] either searching for the governor, or trying to wake him up with phone calls,” the source stated. “There is even a designated staffer who is tasked with looking for him.”
