‘Soldiers’ who flanked Putin in New Year’s message ‘are ACTORS’

Vladimir Putin was exposed for using actors to pose as soldiers and wearing a body armor under his suit in his annual televised New Year’s speech.

The 70-year-old Russian president was seen in footage released by Moscow delivering his recorded message while standing in front of several men and women in military uniforms. The clip then showed him raising his glass and toasting the new year.

However, keen-eyed viewers have suggested that Putin appears so paranoid that his position is under threat that the Kremlin used actors to pose as soldiers and medics for the address. Others spotted an unusual bulge under his suit jacket, suggesting he was wearing body armor as an extra precaution.

One of the alleged actors is a blonde woman standing over Putin’s right shoulder. Like the others, she is seen in military garb, having previously been awarded a medal by the Russian despot, glancing back and forth between him and the camera.

Vladimir Putin has been accused of hiring actors to pose as soldiers and wear protective armor under his suit for his annual televised New Year’s speech. Left image: A blonde woman, rumored to be a “paramedic,” spotted at other public appearances by Putin

Pictured: Social media users compared photos from past performances to several people who have been spotted near Putin on more than one occasion, suggesting they may be actors or even members of his security detail

But this isn’t the first time she’s been spotted with the President.

In the broadcast, she was awarded a medal by the Russian President as a senior captain in the army medical service named Anna Sidorenko.

But Radio Liberty-affiliated media outlet Sibir.Realii shared claims that she was a mystery woman nicknamed Agent Cornetto after she was spotted selling ice cream to Putin when he attended an air show.

This is also not her first appearance at Putin events, the outlet claimed.

The suspicion is that if it is indeed the same woman, she is a trusted member of his security service and not a military medic as portrayed.

“Realii has determined that one of the military officials who stood behind Putin during his televised address was a woman who has appeared on several occasions in various roles with the president,” the outlet said.

Pictured: Putin awards a medal to the mysterious blonde woman before his televised New Year’s speech

Pictured: A woman who social media users said is the same as who stood behind Putin during his New Year’s address can be seen dressed as a sailor in a previous appearance by the Russian president

Pictured: A woman believed to be the same blonde woman seen during Putin’s New Year’s address stands near the Russian President during an appearance at a church

“In September 2016, the president was photographed with fishermen on a lake in the Novgorod region — she was among them,” the outlet said.

The woman was photographed next to the Russian President in orange high-visibility clothing.

“And in January 2017, the same people were spotted at one [Orthodox] Christmas service in a monastery in Novgorod.’

Most were seen as his security guards rather than actual fishermen.

Two other men have been photographed on numerous occasions with the mysterious women, who are also posing as fishermen and church worshipers.

In 2017 and 2019, Putin “bought ice cream from the same saleswoman at the International Aerospace Show.”

At the Moscow Air Show, the blonde ice cream seller was identified as Ekaterina Safonova, but is believed to be the same woman as on the other outings.

In 2019, she served Putin ice cream when he gave Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a vanilla cone. Two years earlier, she had supplied the Kremlin boss with ice at the same place.

Sources at the air show said her only role was to serve Putin and after that she disappeared.

Pictured: The outline of what some commentators have dubbed body armor can be seen under Putin’s suit, suggesting the Russian president has taken more precautions

The Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper speculated that she is a colonel in the FSO – the Federal Protection Service – responsible for guarding the president.

The earlier claims about “Agent Cornetto” led to accusations that Putin is using his own security agents to pose as ordinary people – so he doesn’t have to meet with the public.

Health or safety concerns may be a reason for such action.

The new Sibir.Realii claim sparked a lively social media debate in Russia over whether the characters in the New Year’s show were the same as in previous appearances.

Several images of Putin’s previous public appearances were shared, with Twitter users creating composite images and circling the people who had appeared as “members of the public” on more than one occasion when meeting Putin.

Against the backdrop of the 20 alleged soldiers and women in military fatigues, the exhausted dictator was speaking from the headquarters of the southern military district near Ukraine, his officials said.

Amid rumors of his ill health and battle with cancer, he claimed to be leading Russians to “our common future, our true independence.” He coughed and spluttered several times during his nine-minute speech.

Online commentators suggested Putin’s speech was a poor imitation of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s risky visit to the frontlines of the war, during which he was seen shaking hands with soldiers and presenting awards.

2022 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Oleksandra Matviichuk wrote: “Putin wanted to copy Zelensky, who came to the Ukrainian defenders in Bakhmut. But after ten months of full-blown war, even actors are in short supply in Russia.’

Eagle-eyed viewers also said they could see an outline of body armor under Putin’s suit, suggesting he’s taking more precautions.