Speculation about the health of Russian President Vladimir Putin resurfaced after the Kremlin briefly published and then removed an unedited video showing him coughing and restarting part of a speech in Moscow, a clip first reported by The Moscow Times that quickly circulated online.
The footage, recorded during preparations for Putin's International Women's Day address on March 7, captured a moment rarely seen in official Kremlin broadcasts. According to The Moscow Times, the video showed Putin pausing mid-speech and addressing someone off camera before requesting another take.
"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," Putin said in the clip described by The Moscow Times.
The unedited version was reportedly uploaded briefly before being removed and replaced with a shorter, edited video that omitted the moment. The incident attracted attention partly because the Kremlin typically tightly controls footage of the Russian president, rarely allowing unscripted moments to appear in public broadcasts.
While the clip itself shows little more than a brief interruption during filming, it revived long-standing speculation about Putin's health that has circulated for years in foreign media, opposition circles and online forums.
Reports about the Russian leader's health have repeatedly surfaced since the early years of the war in Ukraine. A 2023 report by The New York Times, based on leaked U.S. intelligence documents, said materials referenced a conversation suggesting Putin might have been scheduled to begin chemotherapy.
The New York Times report also emphasized that U.S. officials had found no evidence indicating the Russian president was seriously ill or near death.
Despite that caution, rumors about Putin's health have continued to circulate widely. Publications including OK! Magazine have reported claims by various commentators suggesting the Russian leader might suffer from illnesses ranging from cancer to Parkinson's disease.
Some of the speculation has gone even further. OK! Magazine reported that certain online theories claim Putin may have died in 2023 and been replaced by body doubles supported by prerecorded footage and artificial intelligence.
None of those claims have been substantiated by evidence.
Health speculation surrounding the Russian leader has also been fueled by public appearances and video footage that critics say show physical irregularities. Observers have previously pointed to moments such as trembling hands, stiff posture or unusual facial expressions during televised events.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has occasionally alluded to rumors surrounding Putin's health while commenting on the war, though the Ukrainian government has not presented medical evidence supporting such claims.
Analysts say rumors about the health of authoritarian leaders often take on outsized political meaning because the stability of the political system is closely tied to a single individual.
Once such speculation begins, even minor details-such as a cough, a pause during a speech or changes in appearance-can become the subject of intense scrutiny.
