Someone may have been Putin in an act.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin may have been replaced by a similar body double during a trip to Iran this week, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official said.
The Russian president, who has long been rumored to be suffering from an illness and possibly cancer, appeared more alert and mobile than usual during his visit to Iran to meet with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ukrainian sources told The Sun.
Major General Kyrylo O. Budanov told Ukrainian channel 1+1 that Putin’s animated appearance during the visit was uncharacteristic and suggested that the man in the footage was not Putin.
“I’ll just do a hint,” Budanov said, according to the translation.
“Please look at the moment of Putin leaving the plane. Is it Putin at all?”
Ukrainian General Budanov said Putin’s animated appearance was uncharacteristic. Getty Images Putin’s visit to Iran was his first international trip since the start of the war in Ukraine. Getty Images
Putin’s visit to Iran was his first international trip since the start of the February 24 invasion of Ukraine.
US intelligence indicated that the discussion was about a deal for Iran to sell Russia “several hundred” drones, including some capable of carrying out weapons strikes, for use in the war against Ukraine.
In May, an anti-Putin Telegram channel “General SVR” – allegedly run by a former lieutenant in Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service – claimed body doubles had been put on alert to replace Putin if needed while undergoing surgery.
The mysterious Telegram account also claimed that pre-recorded footage of Putin attending meetings and signing laws will be released to make it look like he’s still working.
Putin said two years ago that he was offered the opportunity to employ a double in the early 2000s to carry out his duties for security purposes, but ultimately decided against it.
On Thursday, CIA Director William Burns remarked that Putin appeared “totally too healthy,” contradicting earlier US intelligence that the Russian leader’s health was in decline and he was battling cancer.
An estimated 15,000 Russian soldiers have died in the conflict so far, according to the latest CIA estimates.