A cough cover-up?
The Kremlin quietly removed footage showing Russian President Vladimir Putin coughing and struggling to speak during a pre-recorded address, fueling fresh speculation about the strongman’s health.
Putin, 73, was filmed repeatedly clearing his throat and spluttering while recording a message marking International Women’s Day over the weekend.
In the original clip, the Russian leader paused mid-sentence several times while attempting to regain his voice, and he motioned toward someone off-camera.
“You know, let me say that again, because … my throat’s a bit scratchy. Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today,” Putin said, according to The Moscow Times.
The video was briefly posted on the Kremlin’s official social media accounts, but the unedited version disappeared minutes later. A shorter replacement clip was uploaded soon afterward, with all signs of the coughing episode removed.
Russian officials claimed the original video had been posted “by accident.”
Still, the episode quickly reignited long-running speculation about the Russian president’s health.
Putin has faced persistent rumors in recent years about possible medical issues, including reports of strokes, cancer treatments, and Parkinson’s disease — claims the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
Watch the clip below:
Putin suffers coughing fit in accidentally published video during Women's Day address https://t.co/MAEPzvJQQU pic.twitter.com/sQt9obCmms
— New York Post (@nypost) March 10, 2026
More over at The New York Post:
Russia desperately wipes video showing Putin cough, struggle for breath amid ongoing health woes rumors https://t.co/6L4INAgylP pic.twitter.com/4oxLEcJL5Q
— New York Post (@nypost) March 10, 2026
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