Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas famously penned these immortal words when contemplating the inevitable death of his father:

“Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

And it appears that Vladimir Putin has taken that advice very seriously — to the tune of some $26 billion to finance his longevity initiative, known as “New Health Preservation Technologies.”

It was announced last month by the Russian government that scientists are working on the development of a gene-therapy treatment that would slow cellular aging. According to Deputy Science Minister Denis Sekirinsky, the drug “represents one of the most promising avenues in the fight against aging.” [Bojan Pancevski, The Wall Street Journal , May 28, 2026.]

But that’s just one facet of Putin’s quest for immortality. They are also working to create human organs in a laboratory for transplantation, focusing on two key technologies: bioprinting, or 3D printing of living tissue; and xenotransplantation, or growing human organs inside mini-pigs, which are a breed of animals genetically compatible to humans.

Russian scientists already claim to have bioprinted human cartilage tissue and a mouse thyroid gland, and have projected a target date of 2030 for achieving human organ transplantation. According to the Kremlin press service:

“In the Russian Federation, work is under way on a whole range of scientific programs in this field. These projects are supported by the state, and many scientific and research institutions are taking part in them.” [Id.]

Putin’s longevity program is being spearheaded by his daughter Maria Vorontsova, an endocrinologist, along with physicist Mikhail Kovalchuk, head of the Soviet-era nuclear research center known as the Kurchatov Institute.

Kovalchuk — whose brother Yuri is a banker and media investor close to Putin — says that science will soon allow humans to repair and replace body parts indefinitely:

“It is difficult to discuss immortality, but the ability to repair man will undoubtedly increase.” [Id.]

This initiative is not new; it was started by Putin in 2024, but has received little or no publicity. Nor has there been any meaningful peer-reviewed research reported in major international journals. According to Russian scientist Aleksandr Ostrovsky:

“If there are no publications there are no real results, and their statements should probably be taken as aspirations, not to say dreams. It’s impossible to do science in isolation. They are probably telling Putin what he wants to hear to secure funding.” [Id.]

Vladimir Putin is not the only billionaire fascinated with the idea of living forever; his obsession is shared by the likes of Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman and Peter Thiel, among others. But unlike those who may be motivated by a simple desire never to be parted from their money, Putin is known to be a man who lives in constant fear.

He is said to be a germophobe; pictures of him surfaced during the COVID pandemic, seated at ridiculously long conference tables far removed from other people. He moves constantly from residence to residence, office to office, to keep his whereabouts hidden from his perceived enemies. And he has recently been known to spend considerable time hiding out in secret bunkers because of the Ukrainian military’s expanding drone and missile attacks on Moscow.

While fear of death — particularly a violent death — is not unusual, Putin’s condition seems extreme, even pathological. And I can’t help wondering whether, as he grows older and life becomes more hazardous, he has perhaps begun thinking about the possibility that there will be a Judgment Day in which he will finally be required to account for his actions on this earthly plane. And that’s enough to drive anyone to distraction.

Thinking about my own misdeeds throughout life is disturbing enough. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have to answer for his.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/29/26