Vladimir Putin struggled through a televised address marking International Women’s Day after suffering a coughing fit during the recording. Footage that was mistakenly broadcast on Russian state television before being replaced revealed the latest on the Russian President’s health.
The incident has triggered renewed speculation about the Russian president’s health.
Putin Recording Halted Mid-Speech After Uncontrollable Coughing
The 73-year-old Russian leader was forced to interrupt the recording of the address when he began coughing repeatedly and struggled to continue speaking.
During the recording, Putin was heard asking for a second take so the message could be re-recorded.
However, in a significant embarrassment for the Kremlin, the initial recording, showing the coughing episode, was accidentally released and broadcast across Russia before officials could intervene.
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The footage captured Putin struggling to finish his remarks, revealing a rare unscripted moment from a leader whose public appearances are typically tightly choreographed.
Censors later replaced the clip with a more polished version, but the original broadcast had already circulated widely.
The Kremlin has published an unedited Putin’s 8th of March address to women. In the video, Putin is coughing and asks for another take.
Neither Putin’s administration nor journalists of the Kremlin’s circle noticed this episode and published the video on all social media.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) March 7, 2026
Was Putin’s Coughing Video Leaked?
According to reports, the release of the footage may not have been entirely accidental.
They suggested the possibility that someone inside the system deliberately leaked the clip showing the coughing fit.
War analyst Denis Kazansky told The Sun that the episode undermines the carefully constructed public persona around the Russian president.
“You build an image of a young and strong leader, and then someone leaks one video, and this whole image collapses,” Kazansky said.
“A sick, decrepit old man appears before everyone.”
Putin’s Health in Spotlight
Speculation about Putin’s health had already intensified earlier in the week after a photograph circulated online showing him looking tense and visibly fatigued.
Observers noted that the Russian leader appeared markedly aged in the image, with a sagging chin and weary eyes.
The picture added to ongoing rumours about the physical condition of the Kremlin chief.
Reports Claim Specialist Cancer Surgeon Travels With Putin
Further fuelling speculation are reports that Putin never travels without a specialist surgeon.
Top Moscow oncologist Yevgeny Selivanov, a thyroid cancer specialist, is said to have accompanied the Russian president on dozens of trips.
Selivanov is reportedly part of a medical team of around 13 doctors who regularly accompany Putin during his travels.
The coughing episode is only the latest incident to revive questions about Putin’s health.
Limping During Meeting With Donald Trump
During a meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska last August, Putin appeared to limp as he descended the stairs of his presidential aircraft.
His steps looked uneven and he briefly paused halfway down the stairs to regain his balance.
Parkinson’s Rumours in 2022
Earlier speculation about the Russian leader’s health surfaced in April 2022 when observers suggested he might be suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
The rumours emerged after footage showed Putin repeatedly twisting his feet and shaking his legs during several public engagements.
During one event at the Kremlin, the Russian president was seen swaying back and forth and shifting his weight while presenting a State Prize to filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
