Vladimir Putin is using "at least three" body doubles as rumours continue to escalate over the Russian president being ‘incredibly unwell’, according to a leading security expert.
International security specialist Will Geddes said Putin displayed behaviour which was “out of character” during his recent trip to Ukraine, while also looking different appearance wise.
The Russian President paid a surprise visit to Mariupol, a Ukrainian port captured by Russian forces, where he was seen driving a car through the streets at night and speaking to people.
Geddes, however, disputes whether the figure in Ukraine was actually the 70-year-old who is waging war on the country.
Vladimir Putin is using 'at least three' body doubles, according to a security specialist
Reuters / GB News
Speaking on GB News, he said: “I think it’s it’s highly likely [Putin uses a body double].
“To be honest, there has been a lot of analysis done on his recent visits to Ukraine where there has been such discrepancies where he’s got certainly, as Ukraine intelligence services seem to believe, at least three body doubles.
“To be honest, that’s not unusual. Most world leaders will have some kind of decoy they will deploy in certain circumstances to keep themselves safe.”
Geddes speculated as to why Putin is ‘sending actors’ on public duty in his place, saying it could be something to do with the Russian president’s health condition.
Putin's war in Ukraine continuesReutersHe told Patrick Christys: “There’s a lot of reports that Vladimir Putin is incredibly well. This would play into Xi Jinping’s recent to the Kremlin to meet with Putin.
“There was certainly some footage of Putin looking very unstable, very shaky.
“One of the indicators on decoys is they will quite often be subject to extensive plastic surgery to mimic their boss.
“They will quite often not engage in high-level discussions which are recorded by the media.
“There are occasions when their body language can’t mimic the host. The use of hands by the decoy in the Ukraine occasion was quite out of character to what we’re used to Vladimir Putin doing.”
The security expert spoke about the dangerous nature of being a body double and just how secretive a profession it is.
He said: “Everybody to some extent will be kept in the dark. Even the closest entourage will be kept in the dark to a certain degree.
“Inevitably, there will be communications in terms of the planning, the schedule, the movements and everything else.
“I’ve certainly worked with decoys and I may have been known to have worn a wig and driven off in a vehicle, leading the paparazzi in my direction to decoy them.
“It’s not uncommon.”
Putin has been invited to China by Xi Jinping in a symbolic show of support after the Chinese President’s recent trip to Moscow.
The invitation comes despite the international criminal court issuing an arrest warrant for Russia’s president over accusations of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.
Xi’s trip to Moscow has been seen as a huge boost for Putin as he aims to secure a strong ally.
The pair called each other “dear friends” during a four-and-a-half-hour meeting on Monday as they enjoyed a six-course meal.
