Ukraine’s military intelligence chief has repeated claims that Russia’s Vladimir Putin might be using a body double.
Speaking on Ukrainian TV, the newly-appointed chief, Major General Kyrylo Budanov said that the Moscow boss’ height and even ears have changed in recent appearances.
In an appearance on the channel ‘Groshi’ he said: "The picture, let's say, of the ears, is different. And it's like a fingerprint, each person's ear picture is unique. It cannot be repeated."
Budanov also went on to say he believed the Russian president was seriously ill and utilised his body doubles to avoid public appearances, according to Ukrainian news outlet TSN.
The 69-year-old warmonger’s health has been a topic of discussion among many commentators with various claims being made about his health.
Budanov went on to allege that some of the supposed body doubles “have different habits, different mannerisms, different gaits, sometimes even different heights if you looked closely”.
Previously, the intelligence chief claimed Putin may have used a double for his arrival at a summit in Tehran last month.
Budanov told the 1+1 new channel: “I will only hint. Please look at the moment of Putin's exit from the plane. Is it Putin at all?”
The trip was made by Putin as one of the only international visits he can currently make due to his ongoing invasion of Ukraine and marks only his second trip in five months.
There he met Iran’s leadership and Turkish president Recep Erdogan.
This comes as Putin's invasion of Ukraine continues to rumble on, with fighting focused in the east of the country.
In recent days, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted to talk directly to China’s leader, Xi Jinping, in the hope China can use its influence over Russia to bring the war to an end.
So far all diplomatic routes have proven unsuccessful and China has refused to condemn the invasion.
According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Zelensky said: “It’s a very powerful state. It’s a powerful economy. So [it] can politically, economically influence Russia. And China is [also a] permanent member of the UN security council.”
Russia has maintained its offensive in eastern Ukraine but Kyiv’s forces have said they were able to repel the latest advance.
In an update this morning, the military’s General Staff said: “The enemy used barrel and rocket artillery in the areas of Yakovlivka, Travneve, Kodema, Pokrovske, Rozdolivka, Kurdiumivka, Zaitseve, Bakhmut and Soledar settlements. There were airstrikes near Yakovlivka, Soledar and Kodema,”.
It added that Russian forces "tried to improve the tactical position" but ultimately "had no success ... and retreated."
Along the eastern frontline Ukrainian authorities have reported intense shelling, as Russia is said to be focused on the Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
