Vladimir Putin has displayed a mystery scar on his forehead while attending an event in Moscow.
The cut was prominent on the Russian president’s brow as he addressed the Future Technologies Forum.
He used his speech to boast about Moscow’s military might, reportedly claiming at one point that ‘the whole world is talking about’ the capabilities of Russia‘s Oreshnik missile systems.
But audience members may have been distracted by the noticeable scab on the dictator’s bald head.
The mark has been visible in pictures and TV appearances since Wednesday, with little attempt made to conceal it.
But there is no sign of it in photographs released by Russian state media on Monday and Tuesday, suggesting that he most likely sustained the injury at the start of the week.
It has been a dramatic few days for Putin, with Moscow celebrating after US President Donald Trump launched a war of words against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking at a drone factory in St Petersburg on Wednesday, his scar fully visible, Putin welcomed talks between Russian and American officials in Saudi Arabia the day before as a ‘first step’ to improved relations between the former foes.
TODAY: The cut was prominent on the Russian president’s brow as he addressed the Future Technologies Forum in Moscow
FEBRUARY 20: The scar can be seen on his left temple during a meeting with the Chief Rabbi of Russia on Thursday
FEBRUARY 19: The scab can be faintly seen on the dictator’s forehead during a meeting at a drone research plant
FEBRUARY 17: There was no sign of the cut on Putin’s forehead earlier this week
‘I was briefed (on the talks). I rate them highly, there is a result,’ he told reporters, adding: ‘In my opinion, we made the first step to restore work in various areas of mutual interests’.
He claimed that securing a resolution to the conflict was a priority for Russia, but added that his country must build trust with the US in order to achieve this.
‘It is impossible to solve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis, without increasing the level of trust between Russia and the United States,’ Putin said in the televised meeting.
While Trump earlier suggested a face-to-face meeting between Putin and himself could be held before the end of the month, the Russian President said he was not ready to say when talks might take place, without explaining further.
Back in 2023, another mystery wound sparked speculation about the 72-year-old despot’s health.
At the time, a scar appeared on his neck – a prominent upwards line from the left to right of his neck.
It followed on from claims by independent outlet Proekt Media that Putin has suffered from thyroid cancer.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a candle during an Orthodox Easter service at the Christ the Saviour cathedral in Moscow early on April 16, 2023. A prominent ‘scar’ is seen on his neck
An investigation by the news site claimed that the dictator is constantly accompanied by a surgeon – Yevgeny Selivanov, of Moscow’s Central Clinical Hospital – specialising in thyroid cancer.
A similar scar was noticed more than two years prior in December 2020 when Russian media outlet Sobesednik pointed to a distinct marking on Putin’s neck.
At the time plastic surgeon Amjad Al-Yousef commented: ‘In theory, after intubation [inserting a tube for surgical purposes] such a scar can remain, but this is only in theory.
‘It often happens that not even a scar remains as the skin heals.’
The Kremlin denied at the time that Putin suffers from health problems.
