The Kremlin briefly published and then removed an unedited video showing President Vladimir Putin coughing and clearing his throat while recording a televised message for International Women’s Day, reigniting speculation about his health. The clip — which shows the 73-year-old coughing repeatedly for roughly 30 seconds before restarting his remarks — was posted to the Kremlin’s official Telegram channel for about four minutes before being replaced by a polished version that removed the interruptions. According to Newsweek, the recording took place on March 8; copies of the unedited footage circulated widely on social media in early March, including a widely shared tweet dated March 7, 2026.
In the viral clip Putin praises women, saying, “Of course, it’s very challenging to juggle everything, to impress with your beauty and charm whilst simultaneously being hard-working, determined, and resilient. But you manage it.” Seconds later he gestures to his neck and says, “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,” before pausing and restarting the address: “Dear women, I am sincerely happy to congratulate you on International Women’s Day. We always celebrate this holiday with the warmest, most heartfelt feelings…”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the initial publication as a “weekend mistake” and insisted Putin is in “excellent health.” Some Ukrainian analysts, however, suggested the raw clip may have been leaked deliberately by insiders seeking to undermine the Russian leader’s carefully curated “strong leader” image.
Newsweek used an AI-detection tool to verify the footage and reported it appears authentic. The incident has revived long-running, unverified rumours about Putin’s health — including past online scrutiny of hand tremors and a November video that showed his right hand with prominent veins — though Kremlin officials and Western intelligence agencies have regularly dismissed such claims.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/vladimir-putin-coughs-and-splutters-in-leaked-kremlin-video-sparks-speculation-about-his-health-11196632#publisher=newsstand
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-03-10 23:29:00
