Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly issued an urgent directive to Russian scientists to develop an 'anti-ageing wonder cure' for himself and his close associates. Officials entrusted with fulfilling the 71-year-old leader's desire for improvements in "active longevity" have responded frantically to this command.
The guideline was brought to the attention of independent news sources Meduza and Sistema after it was released by the health ministry in June. The information has taken prominent medical researchers by surprise. Experts are concerned by the abruptness of the health ministry's letter, which demands rapid development on anti-aging research.
According to a source, "The biggest boss set a task, and officials rushed to implement it in every possible way. We were asked to urgently send all our developments. The letter arrived today, and everything had to be sent yesterday." This urgency reflects Putin’s longstanding interest in anti-ageing, which has now intensified into an obsession with extending the active years of life.
Medical professionals were asked to submit recommendations that addressed immune system function, prevention of cognitive and sensory deficits, and reduction of cellular degeneration. Bioprinting is one of the novel medical technologies that are being studied.
Putin's close associates comprise Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (74), Chief of Staff of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov (72), Senior Advisor Nikolai Patrushev (73), Chief of Staff of the SVR Sergey Naryshkin (70 next month), and Speaker of the Russian Senate Valentina Matviyenko (75). The emphasis on anti-aging is said to be a reaction to these well-known people's aging.
The directive has sparked frustration among some researchers. One source noted, “We received this paper, and frankly, I was shocked. The message itself puzzled me. Well, of course, now we have no one to restore except these old stumps. During the war, we have to drop everything. This cynicism is even perplexing.”
Concerns have also been raised regarding the financial implications of this initiative. A source close to the Kremlin stated, “All the modern research discussed in the national project is quite expensive—developing new drugs costs billions. No single national project can handle that, especially now.”
Mikhail Kovalchuk, 77, the chairman of the Kurchatov Institute and a close supporter of Putin, is rumored to be a major driving force behind the project. Conspiracy theorist Kovalchuk has suggested creating a "Russian genome" and made contentious remarks on his intention to attack particular ethnic groups.
Maria Vorontsova, 39, an endocrinologist, is Putin's daughter who is rumored to be working on anti-aging research. Putin unveiled a new national initiative earlier this year to protect the health of the populace. Part of the initiative was an anti-aging program that aims to save 175,000 lives by 2030. This endeavor stands in stark contrast to the continuing crisis in Ukraine, which is said to have claimed a large number of lives.
The anti-aging movement is in response to the recent passing of 77-year-old Professor Vladimir Khavinson, the head of the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology and a longtime supporter of longevity research. Khavinson was well-known for his assertions that his studies may increase a person's lifespan to 110 or 120 years. In the past, he had worked to support Russian and Soviet leaders, such as Boris Yeltsin, Yuri Andropov, and Leonid Brezhnev.
Prominent people have used Khavinson's anti-aging peptides, such as 41-year-old gymnast and Putin's lover Alina Kabaeva. Putin's hopes of living a long life were dashed by his passing.