Amid already long-running health-related conspiracy theories surrounding US President Donald Trump, his Russian counterpart has become the subject of similar concerns on the Internet. During one of his recent press conferences, the 73-year-old was seen with a “swollen and sore” hand. His public appearance has since sparked a new wave of speculations, as netizens mull over the chances of a potential health scare perturbing him.

Putin health scare speculations on the rise after recent photos go viral

“Old age or AI? There’s something wrong with Putin’s hands,” read a post on X this week. The big questions about the Russian president’s health grained traction on social media after he seen addressing a crowd on a basketball court.

Putin was pictured tightly clenching his fist, almost hinting at the discomfort that many believe him to have been enduring at the moment. The heavily speculative chatter started by internet-savvy enthusiasts was further fuelled by a former advisor to the Ukrainian interior ministry.

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“There’s something wrong with Putin’s hands,” Anton Gerashchenko told East2West. Taking a swipe at the Russian leader in the wake of his country’s invading Ukraine, the official added, “Apart from the fact that they’re covered in blood up to the elbows, his veins are bulging too.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Gordon told the Mirror, “Putin clenches his hands into something resembling fists. They look swollen and sore, with veins bulging prominently on one hand.”

Trump-Putin hand photo comparison mount up

Merely months ago, Trump became the targets of accusations he covered up “IV wounds with makeup,” as many wondered if he was suffering from “congestive heart failure.” Akin to Putin facing such health conspiracies over the years, the US president has also repeatedly borne the brunt of such implications online.

One even tweeted, “The signs are almost Biblical. On the left is Putin’s right hand from earlier today during a TV appearance in Russia.” Another commented, “A new video surfaced of putin and there’s something really wrong with his hands. Russians online are starting to worry their ruler isn’t okay.”

Putin’s hands were the focus of a discussion during the first year of the Ukraine war as well. At the time, the Russian leader made news after a black spot was seen on his hands while he met up with troops during a military visits. Like Trump, he was also subjected to questions about potential IV marks. As of now, no official confirmation has come in about Putin grappling with any kind of illness.

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Back in July, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did her bit in an effort to dismiss the rumour-mongering chatter.

Sharing a “note from his physician,” she said, Trump “underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies. Leavitt further laid bare, “bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”

Shunning any suggestion of the POTUS dealing with any serious illness, Leavitt addressed the “minor bruising on the back” of Trump’s hand as being “consistent with minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin, which is taken as part of a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.”