- Putin visited sailors aboard a fishing vessel on Wednesday, according to the Kremlin, but his attempt to make contact with the crew fell flat.
- Putin failed to realize that the intercom he was using was one-way while asking the sailors if they could hear him.
- Putin sat in silence, awaiting a response that never came, before someone informed him that they could not respond to his remarks.
- Kremlin-controlled media omitted the faux pas from their reporting on the visit, as is typical of the government's tight monitoring of Putin's public appearances.
- The mishap follows the Russian president's address to students in a video released Tuesday, in which a mark was visible on his hand.
- Doctors indicated that the mark on Putin's hand was likely where an IV had been inserted.
- One Moscow ER doctor described the mark as a 'three-day hematoma after an injection.'
- Another doctor noted it looked like a 'sloppy injection.'
- An experienced cardiologist explained that the hand is not the first choice for IV injections, which are typically reserved for sites on the inner elbow.
- Putin's health has long been the subject of speculation, given his age and his decades-long tenure as Russia's president or prime minister.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, 73, experienced a public relations blunder during a recent visit to sailors aboard a fishing vessel, where he mistakenly used a one-way intercom, leaving him in silence as he awaited a response.
“Hello, comrades, can you hear me?” he repeatedly called out, but the sailors could not respond. This incident, shared widely on social media by the Belarusian outlet NEXTA, highlights the challenges Putin faces in maintaining his public image amid increasing scrutiny.
The Kremlin-controlled media, known for its tight monitoring of Putin's appearances, omitted this faux pas from their reports, a common practice that raises questions about transparency.
This mishap follows a recent address where a visible mark on his hand sparked speculation about his health, with doctors suggesting it was a “three-day hematoma after an injection”.
Putin's health has been a topic of concern, especially as he approaches the age of 83 in 2036. In a previous statement, he dodged questions about his stamina, saying, “Only God knows if we have enough health” to fulfill his duties.10
As the Russian leader navigates these challenges, the incident with the sailors serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities that come with age and the pressures of leadership.
“The incident follows a video released Tuesday showing a mark on Putin's hand, which three doctors told The Moscow Times was likely an IV insertion site. One Moscow ER doctor described it as a "three-day hematoma after an injection," while another called it a "sloppy injection."”
The Daily Beast
