Putin skips hockey game - doubts about his health increase

Russian President Vladimir Putin has the world talking about his health again after choosing not to participate in one of his most beloved sporting events -the Night Hockey League game.

Instead, Putin appeared in a video and sent a message from Sochi, the Black Sea resort where the hockey match was scheduled, according to East2West News. "I wish you good luck in your ice battles and all the best," Putin said in his message. "And as they say, 'May the best win.'"
Photo: screenshot from The Sun

The video caused speculation about the state of Vladimir Putin's health to soar, as viewers noticed some dark splotches on the Russian President's cheeks which appeared to be covered up by makeup.

Photo: screenshot from The Sun

East2West reports that the amateur hockey game "was always a firm date in his [Putin's] diary," according to a Moscow source. The source added that "something must be wrong for him to be a no-show."

According to East2West, "It is only the second time in the history of the gala matches since 2012 that the president is missing this game." The outlet added, "In 2013, he held a symbolic face-off and watched the match from the stands." Reportedly, in 2013 Putin did not partake due to health issues.

The public has been questioning the state of Putin's health for some time now. However, a video released by the Kremlin, in which the Russian leader appeared swollen and gripping the table for support, really made the alarm bells sound.

In addition, during the Victory Day celebrations and the Orthodox Easter service in Moscow, Putin appeared frail, unsteady and even covered up with a blanket. These elements have the media in a frenzy, wondering what is going on with Putin's physical health. Click on to read more about Putin's potential health issues.

The British tabloid The Sun reported that Putin will have to undergo cancer surgery and will therefore temporarily disappear from the scene.

In reality, Putin's health is a mystery and it's difficult to take The Sun's information at face value as everything related to the Russian President's personal life is kept under wraps. It is true, however, that Putin's ailments, which have plagued him for years, continue to be reported in all media.

British newspaper The Independent (and many other international media outlets) commented on a May video showing Putin receiving Belarusian President Lukashenko, apparently suffering from a tremor similar to that of Parkinson's disease.

Much has been written about a possible cancer diagnosis for Putin for many years. Thyroid cancer, abdominal cancer (according to The Sun) and other typologies have been reported in the media.

However, any information about Putin's health problems should be quarantined. The propaganda works both ways - from Russia to the outside world and from the outside to Russia - so his complaints may well be fabricated to undermine his power.

Putin has based his power on the image of a strong man, with frequent enactments of his great physical prowess (swimming, hunting, shirtless horseback riding...). An illness would shatter his image as an unbeatable leader, an alpha male above all illnesses.

There are also voices, such as the British agency Dragonfly (an expert in intelligence and security analysis), who argue that if the course of the war does not speed up, Putin could be brushed aside by those around him on the grounds that he is seriously ill.

The Kremlin describes all information about Putin's health as unfounded speculation whenever possible.

It has also been speculated that Putin may have mental health issues. Political leaders like Macron, who have often spoken to him, deny this. Another question is whether he has a rigid stance or whether, as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel once claimed, he is "out of touch with reality".

Some have also pointed out that if we are to go into detail about the health of superpower leaders, it wouldn't hurt to know Joe Biden's health is doing.

Officially, Vladimir Putin is 69 years old and in excellent health.

When asked about Putin's alleged cancer and alleged surgery, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby (pictured) said: "I haven't seen anything to help us confirm this."

In autocratic regimes, speculation about the supreme leader's health, or even rumors of a double to stand in for him in the event of illness, are a classic. North Korea with all its crazy stories and legends is the perfect example of disinformation.

In principle, Putin is not a person with unhealthy habits, so his health should be good. We're talking about someone who, for example, has practiced martial arts and has a black belt in judo.

In addition, it was reported that Putin is careful not to get sick. In the early days of the pandemic, he took extreme precautions in the Kremlin, radically isolated himself, and his long-table meetings in case his guest didn't come with medical certificates proving his full state of health are well known (as with Macron).

In any case, Putin's health (which hides a desire to see him disappear as leader) is not the problem. Behind him are others who can replace him and who certainly have a vision of Russia and the world very similar to that of the current president.