If we previously doubted the likely paranoia of Vladimir Putin, it’s now impossible to dismiss this notion. Psychiatrist Daniel Zagury examines his conduct...

For Le Journal du Dimanche , Daniel Zagury A psychiatrist specializing in psychopathology and forensic psychiatry examines "the hateful gestures" made by the leader of Russia.

As he completely disconnects from reality, Putin falls into excess and launches into a reckless sprint that can only be stopped by outside intervention Zagury observes that war is invariably the sole reaction to an intense and unending inner animosity.

The built-in suspicion characteristic of dictatorships

Like all adept dictators, Putin battles with paranoia. To maintain his authority, he has to be suspicious of every person and every detail. There is a practical form of paranoia essential for intelligence operations, whether with the KGB or the FSB... such paranoia serves as a catalyst for rallying forces against an adversary. However, what we're dealing with here is different—it represents a breakdown due to mental instability, explains Daniel Zagury.

Disconnected from reality

The psychiatrist continues: For Putin, this situation is completely unimaginable, indescribable, and unfathomable. It represents the horrific breakdown of all the principles he associates with Greater Russia, which has become intertwined with his own identity. Ukraine, viewed as even more abhorrent due to its perceived existence as a result of the Soviet Union’s fragmentation, is now in the midst of militarily overpowering Russia, aided actively by the despised Western nations. Fully under the influence of his grandiose ego and unable to face the victorious adversary, the Russian leader accelerates his assaults and ridicules the Western powers. His reality no longer influences him.

(MH with Manon Pierre – Source: The Sunday Newspaper – Image: ©picture alliance / Russian Look | Kremlin Pool)