The Russian dictator regularly appears in public not personally – and it all depends on the level of assassination risk.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin regularly uses doubles during public events to minimize the threat of assassination amid the full-scale war against Ukraine. This was stated by former head of British intelligence MI6 Richard Dearlove, as reported by The Sun.
According to him, the information from Ukrainian intelligence about the appearance of Putin's doubles is credible, and the decision on who exactly appears in public is made with security risks in mind.
"This is part of a strict security protocol that has long become standard practice," Dearlove noted.
The War Intensified Threats
Western analysts link the more active use of doubles to Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Ukrainian special services have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to strike targets deep within Russia, significantly increasing the concerns of the dictator's entourage.
"He would be a priority target for Ukrainian drones if it were precisely known where and when he is present," explained the former head of MI6.
Where Doubles Are Not Used
According to Dearlove, doubles are not used during diplomatic negotiations and closed personal meetings.
"At close range, it is extremely difficult to imitate Putin," he emphasized.
However, at public outdoor events—factory visits, demonstration trips, or strolls—the use of doubles is significantly more likely due to the inability to fully control the environment.
Additional suspicions are confirmed by a report from the Japanese television network TBS in 2023. Experts used artificial intelligence to analyze Putin's facial expressions and body movements during various public appearances.
According to the study, the real dictator was present at the May 9 parade in Moscow. At the same time, during the inspection of the Crimean Bridge nearly a year earlier, it is likely that his double appeared—the level of similarity between them was just over 50%.
Latest News on Putin's Doubles
As reported by UNIAN, former employee of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Stupak stated that the head of the Kremlin indeed has doubles. According to him, the main task of Putin's double is to take a bullet meant for the "original," and that is essentially all.
At the same time, military analyst Professor Michael Clarke believes that the likelihood of assassinating Russian President Vladimir Putin is low.
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