Putin Claims He’s Healthy After Two-Day Checkup But Dodges Public Test

Russian President Vladimir Putin is once again insisting he’s in perfect health but his actions continue to tell a different story.

Appearing at the AI Journey forum in Moscow this week, the 73-year-old autocrat claimed he had just completed a “two-and-a-half-day” annual checkup, including an overnight hospital stay, and that “everything is fine.” But despite those assurances, Putin notably refused to use an AI-powered blood pressure kiosk on display at the event a move that only fueled growing rumors about his physical condition.

According to reports, the Russian president was surrounded by bodyguards and declined to test the device, which scans the user’s blood pressure and pulse through a fingertip. The hesitation comes amid persistent speculation that Putin is concealing a serious medical condition possibly cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or a related degenerative illness.

This isn’t the first time red flags have been raised:

• On November 9, close-up photos revealed a swollen and bruised hand, with Ukrainian officials suggesting his “veins are bulging” abnormally.

• In 2022, viral footage showed Putin gripping a table tightly during a meeting, prompting speculation about tremors and balance issues consistent with Parkinson’s symptoms.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly predicted earlier this year that “Putin will die soon,” citing intelligence on his worsening health.

Despite this, Putin continues to portray himself as not only healthy but borderline immortal. Speaking at the same AI conference, he mused about humans eventually living to 150 years old:
“It is probably possible to reach 150,” he said. “But it will always be too few, just like with money always.”

He even doubled down on longevity speculation in September during a hot mic exchange with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un in Beijing, joking about organ transplants and immortality.

The irony here is hard to miss. A man who has reportedly ordered assassinations, silenced journalists, and invaded sovereign nations is now publicly fantasizing about living forever while refusing a basic health screening in front of cameras.

Putin’s regime has become increasingly secretive about his health in recent years. Kremlin officials tightly control his public appearances, media access, and even his distance from other world leaders often seating him at long tables or isolating him entirely. But the body doesn’t lie, and visible signs of aging, bloating, and physical decline have only intensified the speculation.

With Russia’s war in Ukraine grinding into yet another year and the economy battered by Trump-era sanctions, Putin’s grip on power may be the only thing aging faster than he is. Whether or not he’s in good health, his refusal to prove it even through a harmless AI demo says plenty.

Share this with someone keeping an eye on world leaders or subscribe to our newsletter for more coverage that cuts through the propaganda.