Mark on Putin's arm sparks fresh health speculation

Kremlin-released footage of Vladimir Putin addressing schoolchildren and students on September 1 shows a dark mark on his left arm. In the recording, the Russian president appears to partly cover it with his right hand, but the mark repeatedly becomes visible as he gestures. The Moscow Times reported on the mark after consulting three practicing physicians.

Doctors' assessments

One of the doctors, an emergency physician based in Moscow, described the mark as a bruise roughly three days old, consistent with an injection. A resuscitation specialist offered a similar view, adding that a catheter would have been a safer choice for the procedure. A third expert, a cardiologist with more than fifty years of experience, pointed out that the palm is not a typical injection site, since veins in the crook of the elbow are usually preferred for being larger, more stable and closer to the skin's surface. According to the cardiologist, palm veins are sometimes used when elbow veins have already been punctured repeatedly or have become inflamed, or when an injection needs to be administered quickly.

Questions over timing

The outlet also noted that the same mark appears in a video greeting coal miners, published two days before the address to students. It is not visible, however, in other recent footage, including Putin's meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on September 1 and his meeting with educators at Moscow State Pedagogical University on August 29. This has led to speculation that the address may have been pre-recorded, since the Kremlin's press service is known to prepare greetings and speeches in advance. Putin turns 74 in about a month.