Vladimir Putin’s body double rumors resurface on Russian social media

The video prompts wild conspiracy theory that it was used to resemble Putin’s recent visit to occupied Mariupol in Ukraine.

The video targets Russians who rely on state media for news and asks the question: “Who rules Russia?”

While it is unclear who created the video, it highlights the differences between Putin’s alleged body doubles, such as a change in the protrusion of the earlobe, a mole shift on his face and different types of wrinkles.

Rumors of plastic surgery have swirled around Putin for years, and conspiracy theorists have speculated that his “insights” are increasingly being used as his health reportedly deteriorates.

The video suggests that the weaker double was sent to Mariupol and questions whether he has false teeth.

In October 2022, similar claims were made by the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence that Putin used three body doubles, who underwent plastic surgery to look like him.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, claimed the body doubles were being used to hide Putin’s loss of control over the Kremlin.

The proposal comes amid growing claims that Putin is suffering from various ailments, including Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Budanov claimed that Ukrainian intelligence services had spotted Putin’s body doubles standing in for him on several “special occasions” in the past, but this had become “standard practice” now.

“We know of three people in particular that keep showing up, but how many they are, we don’t know,” Budanow said.

“Everyone got plastic surgery to look like them.”

And he continued: “The only thing that gives them away is their height. It is visible in videos and photos. Also gestures, body language and earlobes, since they are unique to each person.”

Budanow asked: “The big question is, does the real Putin still exist?”