Mumbai, September 6: Wild rumours about Russian President Vladimir Putin being terminally ill and using body doubles for public appearances during his violent conflict with Ukraine have peeped head time and time. A top Ukrainian defence official has claimed that Vladimir Putin has died and was replaced with a body double. Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, made startling claims in an interview with Anzhelika Rudenko of Radio Svobod.

Major-General Budanov, overseeing Ukraine's drone strikes and undercover operations against Russia, has thrown in suspicions that Vladimir Putin, often referred to as "Mad Vlad," may have died and Russian authorities are using a body double as a replacement. The speculations were fueled by video footage showing Putin exhibiting unusual behaviour and noticeable alterations in his appearance during public appearances. Vladimir Putin Using Body Doubles? Claims of Russian President Being ‘Terminally Ill’ Fly Again After Despot Caught Looking for Watch on Wrong Wrist.

In another incident, Putin seemed to forget the wrist he typically wore his infamous £12,500 Russian-made Raketa watch. The Russian President briefly glanced at his left arm in confusion upon realising that his flashy timepiece was not on its usual right arm placement. Nuclear War Alert? Russia President Vladimir Putin Puts Nuke Capable ‘Satan 2’ Sarmat Missile to Combat Duty (Watch Video).

The General SVR Telegram channel claimed that the Russian leader had opted to use a doppelgänger for his public appearances due to his bad health. The suggestion was that he enlisted lookalike actors to stand in for him, thus concealing his reportedly declining health. The channel went so far as to allege that Putin's body double appeared to have overlooked the fact that the dictator typically wore his watch on the "opposite wrist."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 06, 2023 01:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).