A Ukrainian spy chief has been trolling Russia by claiming Vladimir Putin is dead and has been using lookalikes in his place for a year.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov said he was not sure whether the Russian president, plagued by reports of his poor health, was still alive.
In an interview with Radio Svoboda’s Anzhelika Rudenko, the intelligence chief, who is known to make controversial statements, said: “The Putin that everyone used to know was last seen around June 26, 2022.”
Rudenko then asked, “So either he’s not alive, or is his health really bad?”
Budanov replied: “Or he doesn’t want to appear.” There can be so many different reasons.’
Vladimir Putin kisses and hugs one of the young Dagestan residents who greeted him during a visit to the republic on June 28
Putin leaves his presidential plane during the welcome ceremony at the airport on July 19, 2022 in Tehran, Iran. Putin and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan arrived in Iran for the summit
Budanov, 37, pointed to a recent video in which Putin caught a glimpse of the watch on his left wrist, only to realize it was on the hand where it normally sits.
As the meeting continued, he was seen removing the watch, believed to be a Russian-made Raketa worth £12,500, and fumbling with it.
The meeting took place the day before Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private plane crashed in Russia, two months after his failed coup attempt against Putin.
Russian authorities have since reported that Prigozhin died in the crash, and Putin has strenuously denied allegations that he was involved in the death.
Budanov was asked in the Radio Svoboda interview: “Is this a real Putin?”
He replied: “Let’s leave the decision to everyone, so everyone leaves it to their own imagination.”
The presenter said she believed it was a Putin body double game, with which Budanov agreed.
When asked directly whether Putin was alive or not, Budanov calmly replied: “I don’t know how to answer you.”
In an interview with ABC News in January, Budanov addressed the rumors about Putin’s poor health.
“He’s been sick for a long time. “I’m sure he has cancer,” Budanov said.
“I think he’s going to die very quickly. ‘I hope very soon.’
Two weeks later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also doubted that Putin was still alive.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov said: “The Putin everyone knew was last seen around June 26, 2022.”
Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Budanov was asked in the interview: “Is this a real Putin?” He replied: “Let’s leave the decision to everyone, so everyone leaves it to their own imagination.” (File photo)
Same person? In the picture, Putin is seen giving a speech in the Kremlin on April 11, 2018, but the head of Ukrainian intelligence says the ear is different from Putin’s previous appearances
Kiev official Anton Gerashchenko posted three pictures of Putin’s chin and asked whether they belonged to the same man. He sneered, “What’s wrong with your chin, Putin?”
Last October, Budanov, head of military intelligence, questioned whether the real Putin still existed.
He said military intelligence had discovered in the past that Putin lookalikes stood in for him on “special occasions” – but added that it was now “standard practice” for the Russian president.
Budanov said: “We know exactly about three people who keep appearing, but we don’t know how many there are.” They all had to undergo plastic surgery to look the same.
“The only thing that gives it away is its size. It is visible in videos and images. Also gestures, body language and earlobes, as they are unique to each person.”
A viral video earlier this year seized on speculation that Putin’s only trip to date to the newly occupied territory in Mariupol on March 19 was made by a lookalike and asked: “Who runs Russia?”
It is unclear who took the footage, but it appeared aimed at reaching Russians who rely on overly loyalist state media for their news.
The video’s producers said a specialist noticed differences in the Russian president’s appearance, such as the ridge on his earlobe, a birthmark or his wrinkles, which are “constantly changing.”
Last October, Budanov also questioned whether the real Putin still existed. He said military intelligence had discovered in the past that Putin lookalikes stood in for him on “special occasions” – but added that it was now “standard practice” for the Russian president
There are rumors that Putin’s “understudies” – who have undergone plastic surgery to resemble him – are increasingly being used as his health deteriorates amid rumors of early-stage cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Regarding the Russian president’s visit to Mariupol, the video says: “They forgot to use his jaw” because it looks different than Putin’s and also asks whether the “double” has false teeth.
On March 20, Kiev official Anton Gerashchenko posted three pictures of Putin’s chin and asked whether they belonged to the same man.
The Interior Minister’s adviser wrote: “What’s wrong with your chin, Putin?”
“Looks like lately (e.g. the Bunker Man’s recent trips to occupied Crimea and Mariupol) his make-up artists have had to work with a pretty shoddy copy, not even a copy, but a copy. “I wonder which one was real?”
A picture showed the 70-year-old Putin a month earlier in a speech to the Federal Assembly in Moscow.
Another document recorded Putin’s alleged visit to the Sevastopol naval port in Crimea on March 18.
A third comes from footage released the following day showing the dictator in war-torn Mariupol.
The first image showed his chin firm and precise, but the image in Sevastopol – taken from Ukraine in 2014 – showed a slack chin, while Mariupol’s chin appears firmer but less firm than in the Moscow image.
Telegram broadcaster General SVR emphasized that Putin was not in Sevastopol or Mariupol, a city that was heavily bombed in the early stages of the war.
“The information from Kremlin sources that Vladimir Putin visited Crimea and Mariupol is NOT true,” claimed the channel, which had inside sources.
Telegram broadcaster General SVR emphasized that Putin was not in Sevastopol or Mariupol, a city that was heavily shelled at the start of the war. Pictured: Putin speaks during an annual expanded meeting of the board of the Russian Interior Ministry on March 20, 2023 in Moscow
Putin said he was advised to use doubles in 2000, shortly after the end of the war with Chechen rebels, which led to a rise in terrorist attacks across Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured at the 2014 Winter Olympics (left) and chairs a metallurgy conference at the Kremlin on August 1, 2022 (right).
“In Crimea, a presidential double was noted with a brief visit and solely for the purpose of a video photo shoot.”
There have been repeated allegations that Putin uses body doubles on some trips outside Moscow or when there are many people around.
In January, General SVR also claimed that Putin’s visit to Ufa, Russia, was a “body double” and not the real president.
It predicted: “Soon the understudy will appear more and more frequently as president.” “The president’s health tends to worsen.”
In Ufa, the “President” was seen paying his respects at the open coffin of Murtaza Rakhimov, the former leader of Russia’s oil-rich republic of Bashkortostan, who died aged 88. He also met the head of the region, Radiy Habirov.
In September last year, footage emerged apparently showing Putin falling asleep during a meeting and claimed he had complained to doctors about fatigue and shortness of breath, raising new doubts about his health.
A body double was even on standby in case Putin was unable to attend the meeting, claimed Telegram broadcaster General SVR, which has speculated for some time that the leader was suffering from serious health problems.
Last month, Budanov claimed that Putin uses body doubles, pointing to the president’s changing ears over the years as proof of his theory.
The 70-year-old’s health caused heated discussions among commentators.
His close ally Nikolai Patrushev is said to have represented the president at his medical appointments.
While the Russian leader looked embarrassed as he descended the steps of his presidential plane in Tehran, Ukrainian sources noted that he was moving unusually quickly and was more alert than in previous public appearances
Budanov said in a television appearance: “The image, let’s say, of the ears is different… And it’s like a fingerprint, each person’s ear image is unique. ‘It cannot be repeated.’
He further claimed that Putin’s body doubles “have different habits, different mannerisms, different gaits and sometimes even different heights if you look closely.”
The major general had previously claimed that a Putin body double may have been used when he arrived for a summit in Iran with Turkish President Erdogan in July 2022.
While the Russian leader looked embarrassed as he descended the steps of his presidential plane in Tehran, Ukrainian sources noted that he was moving unusually quickly and was more alert than in previous public appearances.
The Russian prime minister appeared animated as he greeted the waiting group before taking off his jacket and climbing into a heavily armored limousine.
Budanov said in a live interview on Ukrainian news channel 1+1 that he was suspicious of Putin’s appearance.
He suggested that someone similar to Putin could have flown to Tehran to meet with the presidents of Iran and Turkey.
“I’m just hinting,” he said. “Please look at the moment Putin leaves the plane. ‘Is it even Putin?’