Kremlin Dismisses Putin's Failing Health, Body Double

The Kremlin has denied a recent report suggesting that President Vladimir Putin's health had deteriorated.

When questioned about rumours of body doubles being used for Putin, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, couldn't help but chuckle, dismissing such allegations. "Everything is fine with him; this is absolutely another fake," Peskov clarified when responding to the report by a Russian Telegram channel, which had been picked up by some Western media, regarding a supposed health crisis that occurred on Sunday evening. The idea of body doubles was met with even more amusement by Peskov, who firmly rejected the notion, stating that Putin does not employ body doubles for any of his public appearances. "The notion of using body doubles falls under the category of absurd information hoaxes, which numerous media outlets discuss with unwavering persistence. It only brings a smile to our faces," said Peskov. At 71 years old, Putin, known for his judo skills and "action man" image, remains highly active, participating in an extensive schedule of meetings and public appearances, many of which are televised. Recently, he visited China, with stops in two Russian cities on his way back, demonstrating his commitment to his responsibilities. In a 2020 interview, Putin addressed and dispelled long-standing rumours of using body doubles. He confirmed that while he had been offered the use of one for security reasons in the past, he had chosen not to employ such a tactic.