Ukrainian officials have resurfaced allegations that multiple body doubles are becoming increasingly frequent stand-ins for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Major General Kirilo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, said: daily mail In an interview published over the weekend, Putin said he used at least three body doubles who allegedly had plastic surgery to look like him. Russia’s president is still making important decisions in the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine.
Budanov argues that Tweet From the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on Monday. Newsweek Unable to independently verify Budanov’s allegations, it has reached out to the Kremlin for confirmation and comment.
The Kremlin has not confirmed such reports, but suggestions that Putin may be using a body double have come up several times in recent years. He underscored speculation that he may be suffering from ill health and that his longtime hold in power in Russia may be in jeopardy as his invasion of Ukraine has been repeatedly frustrated. ing.
In early August, Ukrainian Major General Vadim Skivitsky said: Telegraph Putin said he was “neither physically nor mentally healthy” and members of his inner circle “began panicking about his health”.
“He uses a lot of doubles…and it can be difficult to detect if it’s the real Putin or someone to replace him,” Skivitsky said.
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Shortly after Skivitsky made these comments, Budanov said while speaking on the Ukrainian television channel Grosi that Putin is suffering from health problems but has taken a body double to avoid public appearances. Budanov said there are slight physical and behavioral differences between the body doubles that Putin claims.
“If you look closely, they have different habits, different mannerisms, different ways of walking, and sometimes even different heights,” he said.
Budanov again spoke about the crucial difference between the alleged doubles with Putin. daily mailstated that height is the strongest indicator.
“You can see it in videos and photos,” he said. “Gestures, body his language, earlobes as well, because these are unique to every person.”
Budanov added that Ukraine was aware of the recurring appearances of about three specific doubles, but noted that he was unsure of the exact number that Putin was allegedly duped. He refused to make any clear speculation as to whether Putin himself had completely disappeared due to health problems or internal power struggles.
Putin has publicly admitted to at least being offered a body double. At the beginning, he said, “I gave up double thinking.”
