Putin’s Puffy Appearance at Victory Day Parade Revives Health Speculation

Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at Russia’s Victory Day military parade with a noticeably puffy face, fueling renewed speculation about his health.

The New York Post reported on May 11 that Putin’s swollen face and gaunt look drew attention when he attended the May 9 parade in Moscow’s Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II.

Victory Day is Russia’s biggest state commemoration, honoring the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In his speech, Putin sought to rally the military. He did not directly mention the war in Ukraine, but said troops involved in what Russia calls its “special military operation” were fighting forces backed by the entire NATO alliance.

After the event, online discussion centered on Putin’s appearance. Some pro-Ukraine social media accounts said his face looked different than usual and suggested he may have health problems. One user asked what had happened to his face. Another shared a screenshot of Putin frowning and wrote that it could be his “last parade.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with the president of Laos at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 9. Photo: AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with the president of Laos at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 9. Photo: AFP

Questions about Putin’s health have surfaced repeatedly in recent years. In 2022, Russian independent media outlets reported allegations that he had received treatment for a thyroid-related illness. Since then, his gait, facial expressions and hand movements in public have prompted repeated speculation. The Russian government has denied claims that his health is failing. Putin is 73 this year and has extended his long rule.

This year’s Victory Day parade was also significantly scaled back from past years. Reuters reported that Russia staged one of its smallest Victory Day parades in recent years amid the threat of Ukrainian attacks. The Guardian reported that although the event has often been used to display heavy military hardware and nuclear missiles, no tanks rolled through Red Square this year. It also noted that the parade lasted about 45 minutes, much shorter than usual.

Security was tightened in Moscow during the event. The New York Post reported that internet disruptions hit the city and claims circulated online that Putin used a bulletproof vehicle.

In his parade speech, Putin called the war in Ukraine a “special military operation” and said Russia would prevail. Russia has been fighting the war for more than four years since launching its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This year’s Victory Day events coincided with a three-day ceasefire from May 9 to May 11. Even so, foreign media reported that fighting, including drone attacks, continued on the front lines during the truce. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized Russia, saying it had no intention of ending the war.

Park Su-bin, Hankyung.com reporter waterbean@hankyung.com