Vladimir Putin's appearance at Victory Day celebrations draws media attention

During the 81st anniversary commemorations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow. Observers and media outlets, including the Daily Mail, noted that the 73-year-old leader appeared visibly aged with a swollen facial appearance. The military parade was described as scaled-back compared to previous years, notably lacking heavy armored vehicles and ballistic missiles. During his speech, Putin defended the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, framing it as a necessary struggle against Western and Ukrainian aggression. Ukrainian commentator Anton Gerashchenko and the monitoring group Crimean Wind criticized his physical state, linking it to the impact of international sanctions or personal health concerns. While international reports focused on his appearance, the event marked a significant departure from traditional Russian military displays. These observations regarding Putin's health remain speculative as no official health reports were released by the Kremlin.