MOSCOW, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin confirmed suspicions and revealed Tuesday he had five heart attacks while in office.
"While I was president, I survived five heart attacks," Yeltsin told the RIA Novosti news agency.
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Yeltsin was often missing during critical times of his presidency, most notably prior to his 1996 re-election, the BBC said.
Russian officials would explain Yeltsin's absences by saying he had the flu or was busy with paperwork.
Yeltsin finally publicly acknowledged his health troubles in 1997 and underwent a multiple bypass surgery.
Yeltsin told Novosti his health had improved greatly since his 2000 retirement and he is now "active, both mentally and physically."
