The Kremlin accidentally released footage of Vladimir Putin suffering a coughing fit during a recording for International Women's Day, before swiftly deleting it and uploading an edited version. The 73-year-old Russian president, known for his strongman image, was seen struggling to speak, pointing to his throat and telling the cameraman, 'You know, let me say that again, because… my throat's a bit scratchy.'
The outtake was posted on the Kremlin's Telegram channel but later removed, replaced with a version that cut out the coughing. Kremlin spokesperson Alexander Yushanev dismissed the incident as a 'weekend mistake', saying, '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?'
Putin has long faced speculation about his health, with reports of trembling hands and mysterious disappearances. Former MI6 Russia desk head Christopher Steele told LBC in 2024 that he believed Putin could be seriously ill, noting he is 'constantly accompanied by a team of doctors' and that his televised security council meetings are 'broken up into several sections' for medical treatment.
In his official International Women's Day address, Putin praised women's 'generous, compassionate and truly wise feminine soul', but the gaffe has reignited questions about his wellbeing. The Russian leader has also spoken openly about longevity, recently stating in Beijing that 'modern means and methods of improving health… allow humanity to hope that life expectancy will increase significantly.'
