Vladimir Putin was caught having a coughing fit in a now-deleted video from the Kremlin, reigniting speculation about the Russian president's health. In an outtake from a recorded address for International Women's Day, the 73-year-old leader could be seen clearing his throat before repeatedly coughing and gesturing towards his neck.
According to The Moscow Times, Putin said: 'You know, let me say that again, because… my throat’s a bit scratchy. Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today.' The video was posted to the Kremlin’s Telegram channel, then deleted without explanation, with a separate version without the coughing fit later uploaded.
Kremlin press pool journalist Alexander Yushanev dismissed the incident as a 'weekend mistake', saying no investigation was being conducted. However, Ukrainian journalist Denys Kazansky speculated that the Kremlin 'leaked it on purpose because everyone is fed up with this ailing, senile old man', according to The Telegraph.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about Putin’s health, with unverified claims over the years that he has suffered from Parkinson’s disease, cancer, a cardiac arrest and neurological decline. In 2024, former MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove said he believed Putin had Parkinson’s disease, citing contacts in Eastern Europe who thought 'there is something fundamentally wrong with him medically'.
