Vladimir Putin is said to be in bed 'with a cold ' , according to sources close to the Kremlin responding to speculation over why the leader has not been seen in public for ten days . Too ill to take part in official engagements , the politician is apparently holed up in one of his country retreats during one of the most contentious times in his leadership . Speculation over why he has seldom been seen in public has been rife as accusations of involvement in the death of Boris Nemtsov and rumours of fathering a lovechild reach fever pitch . There have even been claims of sudden death and a government coup with the leader 's aides remaining tight-lipped over his absence . Scroll down for video . Vladimir Putin has not been seen in public for ten days because he is 'in bed with a cold ' , say sources close to the Russian politician . But sources close to the Kremlin now say the reason for Putin 's disappearance is a nasty cold which has left him bed bound . Opposition television station Dozhd quoted sources close to the leader as saying this was why he had been hidden from view . Despite his apparent illness , the leader will tune in to state television tonight to watch a pre-recorded documentary on the battle for Crimea . In it he makes the startling admission that Russia was prepared to put its nuclear weapons on alert to secure the peninsula . Wearing a stony expression , he tells the camera : 'We were ready to do it , ' when asked whether he would have put nuclear weapons on alert . ' I talked with colleagues and told them that this is our historic territory . 'Russian people live there , they are in danger and we can not leave them , ' he continued , claiming a bout of flu caused him to remain hidden from public view for almost two weeks . His vanishing act comes after the murder of opponent Boris Nemtsov . He also claims to have had intelligence which indicated anti-Russia militants planned to kill ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych . 'His physical removal was being prepared , ' said Putin who has previously blamed the West for orchestrating the toppling of the pro-Moscow leader . 'It was not us who carried out the coup , ' he insisted . He also suggested that Yanukovych could have saved himself from a coup if he had used weapons on protesters . ' I do not want to evaluate his work ... . ( but ) he said `` I could not sign an order on use of weaponry . I could not bring myself to do it . '' 'Can we blame him for it ? I can not say . And I do not want to do it . I don't think I have a right to do so . 'Whether it is good or bad , the consequences of inactivity are grave . This is clear . ' The interview comes amid rumours that the president has fathered a child with 'lover ' Alina Kabayeva . The 31-year-old former mistress is said to have given birth in Switzerland in recent days . While sources said the leader was unwell , his official press secretary Dmirty Peskov refused to confirm the claims , saying : 'No comment , the topic is closed . ' Putin is due in St Petersburg on Monday to meet Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev , although in one of many bizarre episodes in recent days footage of the supposed summit was aired last week by a TV channel . One former loyalist said yesterday that Putin could face the same fate as the last Tsar of Russia , shot by a Bolshevik firing squad , or ex-Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic , who died in The Hague awaiting trial . Igor Strelkov - a key military commander of rebel fighters in Crimea and eastern Ukraine - also noted that 15 March was the date of the abdication of monarch Nicholas II , 98 years ago . One report citing military historian Strelkov said 'that Vladimir Putin might follow the destiny of Emperor Nicholas II , who was shot in 1918 . 'Another path for Putin , according to Strelkov is a repetition of final days of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic , who died in 2006 in jail in The Hague . ' Rumours the Russian President has fathered a child with gymnast Alina Kabayeva ( above ) are also rife . The Russian leader said he was prepared to put nuclear weapons on alert during the battle for Crimea which sparked widespread riots across Ukraine ( above )
Russian President Crimea has not been seen in public for ten days . Speculation of a government coup and even sudden death has been rife . Sources say he is holed up in country retreat after coming down with flu . In a pre-recorded interview due to air tonight he talks of Vladimir Putin conflict . In it he admits that Russia was ready to put nuclear weapons on alert . Comes amid rumours that he has fathered a child with 31-year-old 'lover '