A viral video of Russian President Vladimir Putin has set off another firestorm of debate over the leader's health. The clip, surfacing on social media last week, shows the 73-year-old leader's right hand appearing swollen, wrinkled, and marked by prominent veins, prompting renewed scrutiny from netizens, Newsweek reported.
Footage sparks online buzz
As per a report by the Express UK, the video was taken during Putin's recent meeting with 22-year-old Yekaterina Leshchinskaya, head of the Russian Healthy Fatherland movement. Putin looked visibly uneasy in his chair while clenching his fists multiple times during the interaction, fueling speculation over possible discomfort or stiffness in his hand.
Also Read | Viral tiger attack video sparks fear in Maharashtra, but officials say it’s….
Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to Ukraine's interior ministry, posted the footage on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “What's with Putin's hands in this video?” His post quickly went viral, with users speculating everything from circulatory issues to neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
Recurring concerns over Putin’s health
According to a report by NDTV World, this is not the first time Putin's physical condition has become a talking point. Shortly after the start of the Russia–Ukraine war, there circulated pictures showing dark marks and bruises on his right hand as he made a military visit. At the time, similar fears for his health emerged on social media, though Kremlin officials denied such claims as "fake." The Russian government has not made any official comment yet about the latest viral clip.
Interestingly, similar rumours circulated about United States President Donald Trump earlier this year, after photographs revealed bruising on his right hand. To quell the speculation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement explaining that the bruising was due to "tissue damage from frequent handshaking" and the effects of aspirin taken as “part of a standard cardio-vascular prevention regimen.”
Also Read | Burning smell sparks panic on IndiGo flight, passengers cry mid-air | WATCH
When Putin and Xi discussed longevity
As per NDTV World, online users also reminded fellow citizens about another recently gone viral exchange between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting in Beijing last September. In a recorded conversation, Putin could be heard saying, "Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become." He added, “People used to rarely live to 70, but now at 70 you are still a child.”
