VLADIMIR Putin visited Mongolia to meet the world's "most powerful shamans" and ask for guidance on the Ukraine war, a key Kremlin critic has claimed.
The brazen dictator is also said to have discussed his "own longevity and reincarnation" while witnessing the rituals of the Siberian occult leaders.
It marked Putin's first trip to a member country of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it issued a warrant for his arrest in March last year.
The brazen dictator has been accused of alleged war crimes in Ukraine - including the abduction of tens of thousands of children and sneaking them into Russia.
Rumours in Moscow are that the real reason behind Putin's risky trip to Mongolia - his third visit in the past decade - was his meeting with religious shamans.
Mikhail Zygar, the founder of TV Dozhd who was exiled for voicing his dissent against the Kremlin when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, claims that Putin made a stop in Tuva, Siberia to seek advice from powerful shamans.
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Siberia and Mongolia are thought to be home to some of the "most powerful shamans in the world", he added.
The meetings were reportedly arranged by Mikhail Kovalchuk, a key Putin ally who is said to have ordered Russian scientists to develop anti-ageing cures for the Russian dictator.
After Putin's visit, Zygar said rumours began to swirl that the Russian tyrant had sought the blessing of shamans for the use of nuclear weapons.
Rumours suggested he wanted the blessing because he was "afraid of angering the spirits".
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In a column for Der Spiegel, the Kremlin critic wrote: "In Moscow, a rumour is now circulating that Putin needs the blessing of shamans for the use of nuclear weapons.
"Without their consent, he could not dare to take such a serious step for fear of upsetting the spirits. And he reportedly returned from Mongolia satisfied."
Zygar said his sources did not confirm if the tyrant discussed nuclear weapons.
But it's believed Putin has sought advice from many such mystical shamans before waging a war against Ukraine, Zygar said.
"All of them assured him of a military victory," he wrote in the column.
Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter, claimed to have received similar information about Putin's trip to Mongolia.
He wrote on Telegram: "In addition to receiving a blessing to use nuclear weapons, Putin was also interested in the question of his own longevity, as well as reincarnation.
"He was said to be very pleased with the meetings and the rituals performed."
While neither of the opposition figures named any of the shamans Putin is said to have visited, Russian reports from over the years suggest that the Kremlin has close ties with Kara-ool Dopchun-ool.
Dubbed Russia's chief shaman, he reportedly asked "the sun, the moon and the stars" to protect Putin and his soldiers in the meatgrinder war against Ukraine, The Times reports.
Putin has long been known to have a fascination for powerful "orthodox mysticism" and occult rituals.
Reports claim the dictator bathes in deer antler blood to boost his sex drive and general health.
The barbaric ancient ritual, dubbed a "natural viagra", is said to boost male potency, despite being condemned by animal rights groups.
Russia's president is said to have been introduced to antler baths by the former Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, in the early 2000s.
Shoigu was born and raised in Tuva.
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Putin is also said to have ties with Alyona Polyn, a Russian woman known to be his "favourite witch".
Intelligence agency FSB previously found Polyn to possess voodoo dolls, black candles, statuettes of demons from various religions and a picture with a golden calf inseminator.