Vladimir Putin possibly replaced by body double in Iran: Ukraine official

Somebody could have been Putin on an act.

Russian chief Vladimir Putin could have been changed by a lookalike physique double throughout a visit to Iran this week, a prime Ukrainian intelligence official mentioned.

The Russian president, who has lengthy been rumored to be ailing with an sickness and probably most cancers, appeared extra alert and cell than regular throughout his go to to Iran to fulfill with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ukrainian sources instructed The Solar.

Maj. Gen. Kyrylo O. Budanov instructed Ukrainian outlet 1+1 that Putin’s energetic look throughout the go to was uncharacteristic, and urged that the person seen within the footage wasn’t Putin.

“I'll solely trace,” Budanov mentioned, in keeping with the interpretation.

“Please look in the intervening time of Putin’s exit from the airplane. Is it Putin in any respect?”

A Ukrainian official claimed that it was potential Russian President Vladimir Putin was changed by a physique double for his latest assembly in Iran.

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Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Budanov mentioned Putin’s energetic look was uncharacteristic.

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Putin’s Iran go to was his first worldwide journey because the Ukraine Battle’s begin.

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Putin’s go to to Iran was his first worldwide journey because the begin of the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

US intelligence indicated the dialogue was over a deal for Iran to promote Russia “a number of hundred” drones — together with some able to weapons strikes — to be used within the struggle towards Ukraine.

In Might, an anti-Putin Telegram channel “Common SVR” — which is purportedly run by a former Russian Overseas Intelligence Service lieutenant — claimed that physique doubles had been placed on alert to interchange Putin if mandatory as he underwent surgical procedure.

The mysterious Telegram account additionally claimed that pre-recorded footage shall be launched of Putin attending conferences and signing legal guidelines to make it look like he's nonetheless working.

Putin mentioned two years in the past he was supplied the chance to make use of a physique double within the early 2000s to hold out his duties for safety functions, however finally determined towards it.

On Thursday, CIA director William Burns remarked that Putin regarded “solely too wholesome,” contradicting earlier US intelligence that mentioned the Russian chief’s well being was in decline and he was preventing most cancers.

An estimated 15,000 Russian troopers have been killed within the battle to this point, in keeping with the newest CIA estimates.