Putin health fears as swollen veins look 'extremely painful'

Putin was spotted with bulging veins and unusual fist-clenching (Image: X)

Recent photos of Vladimir Putin have drawn attention to the noticeably tense, vein-swollen appearance of his hands, leading to renewed speculation about his health. A recent handshake between Vladimir Putin and a public health expert has sparked concerns about the leader's physical condition. During a meeting with Yekaterina Leshchinskaya, 22, who heads the Russian Healthy Fatherland movement, Putin, 73, spoke about the potential prohibition of e-cigarette sales. However, attention shifted when viewers focused on the appearance of his hands. As he extended his arm to greet her, his right hand appeared noticeably veined, with clearly defined tendons and thinner, more creased skin, prompting further speculation about his health.

The 73-year-old Russian leader has faced ongoing rumours for several years suggesting he may be dealing with conditions such as Parkinson's disease or cancer - claims that the Kremlin has consistently rejected as false.

"Social media users are puzzled by what happened to the hands of the Russian dictator - they look extremely painful," said pro-Ukrainian news outlet Nexta, which disseminated the video across social media.

The Kremlin has not yet commented on the latest claims about Putin's health.

Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Gordon said: "Putin clenches his hands into something resembling fists.

"They look swollen and sore, with veins bulging prominently on one hand."

Politician and security expert Anton Gerashchenko added: "There's something wrong with Putin's hands.

"Apart from the fact that they're covered in blood up to the elbows [from his killing in the war], his veins are bulging too."

According to some sources, Putin is simply displaying typical age-related changes, which he allegedly attempts to conceal from the public through cosmetic procedures. Maintaining a youthful and vigorous image has become an important part of how he presents himself to Russia.

The attention being paid to Putin's hands echoes the ongoing discussion about Donald Trump's, which have also frequently been photographed showing noticeable bruising.

Azeem Majeed, Professor and Head of the Department of Primary Care & Public Health at Imperial College London, told the Express it is risky to comment on someone's health without proper access to their medical records.

The GP said: "Without direct access to comprehensive medical records, including lab results, imaging, and detailed clinical notes on diseases and their severity, any assessment relies on incomplete or second-hand data, such as public appearances, media reports, or partial disclosures. This leads to guesswork rather than evidence-based conclusions.

"Publicly available information, like videos or statements, can be misinterpreted. For example, a public figure's behaviour or appearance might be attributed to a medical condition when it could be due to fatigue, stress, or other non-medical factors," Majeed said.