Vladimir Putin is said to have soiled himself in front of his bodyguards when he allegedly slipped down stairs at his official residence.

A Telegram channel which claims it uses his minders as sources has suggested the Russian leader, 70, took the fall as he is secretly stricken with cancer.

It said he suffered the tumble last week when coming down stairs at his Moscow home.

Channel General SVR claims Putin landed on his coccyx, fell down five steps, then rolled on to his side and slid down two more.

It added the impact caused him to “involuntarily defecate” due to “cancer of the gastrointestinal tract”.

The channel has posted updates about Putin’s health since the start of his invasion of Ukraine but has provided no evidence to support its claims or proof.

In the latest post, the channel wrote Putin “stumbled and fell to his back, after which he fell on his side and slid down a couple of steps”.

It added: “The incident took place in front of the president’s bodyguards, who reacted quickly and rushed to Putin’s aid.

“Three security officers helped the president to get to the nearest sofa and called the doctors who are on duty at the residence.”

The channel said medics arrived within minutes, but could not immediately examine the president as he had to be cleaned from his involuntary defecation.

It added: “Before the examination, the doctors escorted the president to the bathroom and helped to clean up.

“After a complete examination, a bruise of the coccyx and soft tissues was diagnosed.

“Nothing critical was diagnosed and the bruising was treated with painkillers. An investigation is to be carried out into what provoked the fall.

“He wears special shoes, even at home, with anti-slip coating, and the stairs in the residence are considered ‘safe’.

“As it turns out, all precautions are meaningless when nerves are at stake.”