Is Vladimir Putin ill? Ashen and Bloated Pictures Raise Questions Of Putin’s Health

The Kremlin has released pictures of Vladimir Putin in which he appeared ‘ashen and bloated’.

The Russian President, normally cutting a rugged and manly figure, looked pale and unfit as his forces pounded Ukraine’s cities.

Social media users immediately picked up on the despot’s pale appearance with one Twitter user calling him “ashen and bloated”.

Another tweeted: “A once vigorous/dynamic leader is but a pale shadow, clinging to a fading charisma.

“At one time he could cloak and disguise his intentions, not so much now – just another tragic lesson from history.”

Russia expert Fiona Hill had speculated that he may not be well.

“Putin’s not looking so great, he’s been rather puffy-faced”, she said.

Hill added that it is known that the 69-year-old has back issues but it could be “something worse”.

“It could be that he’s taking high doses of steroids, or there may be something else.”

Putin is as tight-lipped about his health as he is about his whereabouts.

The world’s press kept a close eye on Putin during the Covid-19 pandemic, as he met more than once with people who would go on to test positive for the virus.

And he was forced to self-isolate in September 2021, after several people close to him went down with the virus.

There has been much speculation about his health over the years, with researchers in 2015 claiming they identified signs in Putin’s gait which could point to Parkinson’s disease.

The team spotted how the Russian had a tendency to keep one arm pinned to his side.

It has also been claimed the President had been treated for cancer.

Political analyst Valery Solovei claimed Putin underwent surgery in February 2020 and another Russian source went on to claim it was an abdominal cancer operation.

Solovei also went on to suggest that Putin is suffering from symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.