- The Russian president was panting and had to clear his throat several times.

Putin, this week in a meeting with mothers of soldiers killed in Ukraine. / Twitter

Putin's gasps at an event this week fuel rumors about his health again

The public appearances of Russian President Vladimir Putin are watched with a magnifying glass given the insistent rumors that exist about his state of health. One of these latest occurrences occurred this week, with a group of mothers of soldiers killed in Ukraine.

During the meeting, the cameras captured how President Putin gasped when speaking with the mothers, to whom he conveyed his condolences and the support of the Kremlin.

The footage shows Putin physically uncomfortable and out of breath as he spoke, forced to stop to clear his throat on several occasions and hesitating to choose his words.

Putin held a meeting with the mothers of servicemen who participated in the special operation. Vladimirovich assured that he and the entire leadership of the country share the pain of mothers who lost their sons during the hostilities. He called them heroes. pic.twitter.com/wPjpLLSaJX

— Sentletse 🇷🇺🇿🇦 (@Sentletse) November 25, 2022

It is not the only appearance by Putin that has sparked rumors about his health this week. A few days ago, he was photographed with a discolored hand while meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

In the meeting with the Cuban president, Putin, who just turned 70 years old, seemed shaky, and unsteady and was seen holding onto his chair during the interview.

At the same time, a senior military adviser in the office of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, argues that Russia's failures in the war have triggered an episode of paranoia, in which Putin is convinced that those close to him may be conspiring to end his life.

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