The Russian Defence Minister is missing from the public eye amid significant resistance to his country's forces currently invading Ukraine.
According to Russian media, Sergei Shoigu's last verified appearance on state television was on March 11. While a news story featuring him was aired on March 18, footage of Shoigu in it was shot a week prior.
He also hasn't been seen with Russian President Vladimir Putin since February 27, when the country's nuclear forces were put on alert. A statement on the Kremlin's website on March 18 says he was present at a meeting between Putin and his security council, but no images were presented.
Given Russia is currently at war, the fact the defence minister hasn't been seen in nearly two weeks has prompted speculation about what might have happened to him.
One theory is that Shoigu is suffering from heart issues. Russian investigative site Agentstvo reported a source as saying that the minister may be unwell, but it could not confirm that.
His disappearance comes as Russian forces deployed in Ukraine face intense pushback from local troops and have so far been unable to secure several critical objectives, such as the capital of Kyiv.
In its latest update on Thursday, the UK Defence Ministry said Russian forces north-east of Kyiv are "already facing considerable supply and morale issues".
"Ukrainian forces are carrying out successful counter-attacks against Russian positions in towns on the outskirts of the capital, and have probably retaken Makariv and Moschun.
"There is a realistic possibility that Ukrainian forces are now able to encircle Russian units in Bucha and Irpin.
"It is likely that successful counterattacks by Ukraine will disrupt the ability of Russian forces to reorganise and resume their own offensive towards Kyiv."
A number of high-ranking Russian military and intelligence officials have reportedly recently been put under house arrest for providing optimistic assessments of the success of an invasion prior to Putin ordering it in late February.
