Zelensky questions if Putin is alive as rumors swirl over his health

‘I don’t know if Putin is still alive’: Ukraine’s President Zelensky suggests Vladimir is dead, as rumors swirl over Russian president’s health

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured left) has questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured right) is still alive while addressing world leaders in Davos. Speaking to the World Economic Forum at the alpine resort in Switzerland via video link on Thursday, Zelensky cast doubt about the despot’s capacity and suggested that he might be dead. Speculation about Putin’s health has been ongoing throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with the tyrant making increasingly fewer public appearances.

Zelensky's comments come as Putin failed to appear for his annual dip into Russia's freezing waters (as he is pictured doing in 2018) to mark Orthodox Epiphany, further fueling doubt over his condition. Ukraine 's wartime leader was discussing potential peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow when he suggested that Putin may in fact be dead.

Zelensky’s comments come as Putin failed to appear for his annual dip into Russia’s freezing waters (as he is pictured doing in 2018) to mark Orthodox Epiphany, further fueling doubt over his condition. Ukraine ‘s wartime leader was discussing potential peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow when he suggested that Putin may in fact be dead.

Zelensky said: 'Right now I don't understand who to talk to. I am not sure whether the president of Russia is still alive.' he said. 'I don't understand that he's still alive or that it is him particularly making decisions.' Many Russians were left watching for clues about the tyrant's health as they made the annual plunge into holes in the ice in frozen rivers and lakes including in Siberia where some experienced bone-cracking air temperatures as low as minus 53C (minus 63F). Yet so far the traditional images of dictator Putin stripping off and waging his own Cold War have not appeared.

Zelensky said: ‘Right now I don’t understand who to talk to. I am not sure whether the president of Russia is still alive.’ he said. ‘I don’t understand that he’s still alive or that it is him particularly making decisions.’ Many Russians were left watching for clues about the tyrant’s health as they made the annual plunge into holes in the ice in frozen rivers and lakes including in Siberia where some experienced bone-cracking air temperatures as low as minus 53C (minus 63F). Yet so far the traditional images of dictator Putin stripping off and waging his own Cold War have not appeared.

Any confirmation that he did not take his annual dip will be seen as yet another sign that, at 70, his health is waning with fears among his loyalists that he is fighting cancer and other ailments. He did not take part last year - but did in 2021, with footage revealed to Russians. Women the same age as him - in their 70s - were among the hundreds of thousands of Russian bathers across the country this year. Putin's spokesman had denied Putin would dip in St Petersburg - where he had official engagements yesterday - but suggested he would in 'another place'. Yet by late morning in Moscow there were no images.

Any confirmation that he did not take his annual dip will be seen as yet another sign that, at 70, his health is waning with fears among his loyalists that he is fighting cancer and other ailments. He did not take part last year – but did in 2021, with footage revealed to Russians. Women the same age as him – in their 70s – were among the hundreds of thousands of Russian bathers across the country this year. Putin’s spokesman had denied Putin would dip in St Petersburg – where he had official engagements yesterday – but suggested he would in ‘another place’. Yet by late morning in Moscow there were no images.

Paratroopers were seen in subzero temperatures submersing themselves at the Main Temple of the Russian Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Moscow region, where the temperature was a relatively mild minus 5C (23F). Troops in and near the war zone also took part in the annual dip despite the apparent absence of their commander-in-chief from the ritual. Aysen Nikolayev, 50, Putin's top official in Russia's coldest region Yakutia, plunged into the water in an air temperature of minus 53C (minus 63F) to mark Orthodox Epiphany. He was inside a tent erected on the ice - from which local women were barred. But compatriots did not seek to shield themselves from the extreme cold. Across Russia, some 10,500 rescuers were delayed to monitor bathers and prevent accidents. Pictured: Russian Orthodox priests blesses the water of a pond during the celebrations of the Orthodox Epiphany holiday.

Paratroopers were seen in subzero temperatures submersing themselves at the Main Temple of the Russian Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Moscow region, where the temperature was a relatively mild minus 5C (23F). Troops in and near the war zone also took part in the annual dip despite the apparent absence of their commander-in-chief from the ritual. Aysen Nikolayev, 50, Putin’s top official in Russia’s coldest region Yakutia, plunged into the water in an air temperature of minus 53C (minus 63F) to mark Orthodox Epiphany. He was inside a tent erected on the ice – from which local women were barred. But compatriots did not seek to shield themselves from the extreme cold. Across Russia, some 10,500 rescuers were delayed to monitor bathers and prevent accidents. Pictured: Russian Orthodox priests blesses the water of a pond during the celebrations of the Orthodox Epiphany holiday.

It is not uncommon for bathers to be carried away beneath the ice, or to face medical problems from the shock of the cold. Arkhangelsk resident Nadezhda Voroshilova, 70, the same age as Putin, said she feels much younger from regular ice swimming. 'I swam at -36C (minus 33),' she said. The ice hole froze right in front of us. I swim in any weather. The stronger the frost, the better for us. You get more buzz. It's indescribable. You have to feel it. When you come out of the hole, it's warm, like in a steam room.' Winter swimming is a way to keep in good shape and socialize, she said.

It is not uncommon for bathers to be carried away beneath the ice, or to face medical problems from the shock of the cold. Arkhangelsk resident Nadezhda Voroshilova, 70, the same age as Putin, said she feels much younger from regular ice swimming. ‘I swam at -36C (minus 33),’ she said. The ice hole froze right in front of us. I swim in any weather. The stronger the frost, the better for us. You get more buzz. It’s indescribable. You have to feel it. When you come out of the hole, it’s warm, like in a steam room.’ Winter swimming is a way to keep in good shape and socialize, she said.

She continued: 'We have a family in the club. We come here and celebrate birthdays together. There are very interesting people here. We are all guests on this Earth, so we must enjoy every day: it is interesting to live, to live passionately.' In Arctic city Norilsk, there were insufficient ice holes so residents emptied water over themselves in temperatures of minus 40C (minus 40F). Epiphany marks the day Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, and Orthodox Christians across Russia cut holes in the ice to immerse reconnecting to a tradition going back centuries.

She continued: ‘We have a family in the club. We come here and celebrate birthdays together. There are very interesting people here. We are all guests on this Earth, so we must enjoy every day: it is interesting to live, to live passionately.’ In Arctic city Norilsk, there were insufficient ice holes so residents emptied water over themselves in temperatures of minus 40C (minus 40F). Epiphany marks the day Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, and Orthodox Christians across Russia cut holes in the ice to immerse reconnecting to a tradition going back centuries.

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