A Ukrainian spy chief has trolled Russia by suggesting Vladimir Putin is dead and has been using doppelgängers in his place for the past year.
Major-General Kyrylo Budanov said he is not certain that the Russian President, who has been plagued by reports of ill health, is still alive.
In an interview with Anzhelika Rudenko of Radio Svoboda, the spy chief, who is known to make controversial remarks, said: ‘The Putin who everyone used to know was last seen around June 26, 2022.’
Rudenko then asked: ‘So he is either not alive, or else he is in a really bad health state?’
Budanov replied: ‘Or he doesn’t want to appear. There might be so many different reasons.’
Vladimir Putin kisses and hugs one of young female residents of Dagestan, who greeted him during a June 28 visit to the republic
Putin leaves his presidential plane during the welcoming ceremony at the airport, on July 19, 2022 in Tehran Iran. Putin and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan arrived in Iran for the summit
