Putin appears with bruised hand in school-year video, sparking fresh health speculation

A Kremlin-released video for Knowledge Day on September 1 displayed President Vladimir Putin covering a dark spot on his left hand while speaking to schoolchildren. Medical professionals who examined the image identified the mark as a three-day hematoma, probably the result of an intravenous line, and explained that hand veins are used only when elbow sites are unavailable or in emergencies. The bruise was not visible in earlier footage from August 29 or during a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, raising questions about when the clip was filmed.

This incident adds to ongoing speculation about Putin’s health, which has been a subject of rumor since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has consistently rejected claims of serious illness, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeling such reports as hoaxes. Recent remarks by Putin comparing the Ukraine war to an orca-polar-bear clash have also drawn attention to his mental state. Despite the attention, no official medical assessment has been released.