Ukraine intelligence chief repeats claim Putin is using body doubles and says EARS are a giveaway

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief has revived a theory that Vladimir Putin is using body doubles – and has pointed his changing ears over the years as proof.

The 69-year-old Russian president’s health has been the topic of fierce discussion among commentators.

His close close ally Nicolai Patrushev is said to have stood in for the president during his medical appointments.

This week, Ukraine’s Major General Kyrylo Budanov appeared on TV to claim to viewers that Putin’s height and ears have changed in recent appearances, The Sun reports. 

He said: ‘The picture, let’s say, of the ears, is different… And it’s like a fingerprint, each person’s ear picture is unique. It cannot be repeated.’

Budanov further alleged that Putin body doubles ‘have different habits, different mannerisms, different gaits, sometimes even different heights if you looked closely’.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured at the Winter Olympics in 2014 (left) and chairing a metallurgy conference at the Kremlin on August 1 (right)

Major-General Kyrylo Budanov (right) raised suspicions over an alleged body double of the Russian premier, whose health has been the subject of intense speculation in recent months

Budanov had previously claimed a Vladimir Putin body ‘double’ may have been used for his arrival at a summit in Tehran this week, according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence.

While the Russian leader looked awkward as he came down the steps of his presidential plane in Tehran, Ukrainian sources noted he moved unusually quickly and was more alert than in prior public appearances. 

The Russian premier looked animated when greeting the waiting party, before removing his jacket and clambering into a heavily armoured limousine.

Intelligence supremo Major-General Kyrylo Budanov was suspicious in a live interview on Ukraine’s 1+1 news channel.

Ukrainian reports said Budanov suggested a Putin lookalike could have flown to Tehran to meet with the presidents of Iran and Turkey. 

‘I will only hint,’ he said.

‘Please look at the moment of Putin’s exit from the plane. Is it Putin at all?’

A Vladimir Putin body ‘double’ may have been used for his arrival at a summit in Tehran this week, according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence

While the Russian leader looked awkward as he came down the steps of his presidential plane in Tehran, Ukrainian sources noted he moved unusually quickly and was more alert than in prior public appearances

The Russian leader’s visit to Tehran where he met Iran’s leadership, plus Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, attracted worldwide attention.

It is only the second time Putin has been abroad since launching his brutal invasion of Ukraine five months ago. 

In one video, Erdoğan kept Putin waiting, with the Russian ruler appearing ill at ease as he shuffled his feet and made strange facial movements.

But earlier Ukraine did not suggest this was a Putin double.

At the time, official Anton Gerashchenko posted on Telegram: ‘Erdogan made Putin wait during the meeting in Tehran.

‘The whole spectrum of emotions of the humiliated and insulted Führer is on his face.

‘The bunker is indeed the best place to stay with such a face.’