This is a big part of why Putin is the way he is, and is true for basically any authoritarian leader 10+ years into their rule. Everyone *has* to lie to them in order we to survive, so they often know even less than their subordinates

This was *allegedly* taken to absurd lengths in Salazar's Portugal, where the man himself was given a fake newspaper every day to fool him he was still in charge after suffering a massive stroke www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

Fake news: How Portugal ‘fooled’ ex-dictator to believe he still led from his sickbed

António de Oliveira Salazar thought he was in power for two years after being replaced, new book claims