On October 24, the Kremlin dismissed reports of President Vladimir Putin’s illness and disregarded persistent rumors regarding the use of body doubles in his public appearances. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, unequivocally stated, “President Putin is in good health; these claims are entirely untrue.” In response to inquiries about an unsourced report that circulated widely through a Russian Telegram channel and was subsequently reported by some Western media, alleging a serious health incident involving the President on Sunday evening, Peskov reacted with amusement. He firmly denied any existence of body doubles, categorizing such claims as “absurd information hoaxes” that certain media outlets discuss persistently, but only serving to elicit a smile.
Vladimir Putin, well-known for his passion for judo and his cultivated “action man” persona, marked his 71st birthday on October 7. He maintains a demanding schedule filled with meetings and televised public appearances. Recently, his agenda included a visit to China with stopovers in two Russian cities on the return trip. In a 2020 interview, Putin refuted long-standing rumors of using body doubles, though he did acknowledge that he had been offered such an option in the past for security reasons.