A behind-the-scenes video of Russian President Vladimir Putin experiencing a coughing fit has surfaced after an accidental release on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel. The 73-year-old leader, known for projecting a rugged image through activities like bare-chested horseback riding and fishing in remote wilderness, appeared vulnerable while recording a message for International Women’s Day.
Details of the Leaked Footage
In the unedited clip, Putin struggles with coughing and stumbling over his words. He points to his throat and tells the cameraman, “You know, let me say that again, because… my throat’s a bit scratchy. Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today.”
The video was quickly removed from the channel, replaced by a polished version with the coughing edited out.
International Women’s Day Address
Putin later delivered his prepared speech for International Women’s Day, marking a significant date in Russian history tied to the 1917 Revolution. He stated, “A generous, compassionate and truly wise feminine soul makes the world a better and kinder place, and a mother’s love remains in every person’s heart for life.”
Kremlin Response
Kremlin spokesperson Alexander Yushanev downplayed the incident as a simple error. He explained, “According to my information, no extraordinary investigation… is being conducted in the Presidential Administration regarding the unedited Putin’s greeting that was posted online. It’s just a weekend mistake, which can happen to anyone. And it’s not the first time with the Kremlin itself, by the way. Everywhere, so far, real people are working, not AI. Did someone seriously think that all video materials are written in one attempt? Or that a person can’t clear their throat after a nearly three-minute speech?”
Ongoing Health Speculation
Speculation about Putin’s health persists amid reports of prolonged absences, trembling hands, and other anomalies. Officials confirm his interest in life extension technologies. During a recent press conference in Beijing, Putin remarked, “Modern means and methods of improving health, even various surgical operations involving organ replacement, allow humanity to hope that life expectancy will increase significantly.”
Christopher Steele, former head of MI6’s Russia desk from 2006 to 2009, indicated in a 2024 interview that Putin shows signs of serious illness. Steele noted, “What we do know is that he’s constantly accompanied around the place by a team of doctors. Meetings of the security council that are shown on TV to supposedly last for a whole hour are actually broken up into several sections. He goes out and receives some kind of medical treatment between those sections. So, clearly, he is seriously ill – how terminal or incurable it is is not clear, we can’t be entirely sure. But it’s certainly having a very serious impact on the governance of Russia at the moment.”
